Special Events
Sept 12–16: Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Fest
Thousands of motorcyclists descend on the Northern Catskills, bringing with them music, vendors, and rodeos. You are only recommended to bring earplugs.
Blackthorne Resort, East Durham, 518.634.2541, www.catskillmountainthunder.com
Sept 22–Oct 14: Oktoberfest
Beer, brats, and BMWs, all in a makeshift Bavaria. Four weekends of festivities give you plenty of opportunities to hoist a stein and try out some of the region’s best food and drink.
Hunter Mountain, 888.486.8376, www.huntermtn.com
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Music
Sept 2: Trio Solisti – Maverick Chamber Music Festival
Focusing on music for piano, violin, and cello, with pieces by Haydn, Chausson, and Dvorak.
Maverick Concert Hall, Woodstock, 845.679.8217, www.maverickconcerts.org
Sept 9: David Byrne
The legendary former frontman of the Talking Heads brings his latest high-concept stage show to Albany. Featuring tunes from throughout his career as well as his latest, American Utopia.
Palace Theatre, Albany, 518.465.4663, www.palacealbany.org
Sept 12: John Mayall
The “Godfather of English Blues” and collaborator with Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor will play selections from his 50-year career.
Bearsville Theater, Woodstock, 845.679.4406, www.bearsvilletheater.com
Sept 13: Rhiannon Giddens
This banjo player and cofounder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops will play hits, originals, and traditionals before a standing-room-only crowd.
Towne Crier Café, Beacon, 845.855.1300, www.townecrier.com
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Sept 13: Mystic Braves
Throwing back to an earlier era of garage and psychedelic bands, and then throwing them all into a blender.
BSP, Kingston, 845.481.5158, www.bspkingston.com
Sept 15: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
“The last ‘blog rock’ band standing” will bring their particular lo-fi charms to Woodstock’s most historic venue.
Colony Woodstock, Woodstock, 845.679.7625, www.colonywoodstock.com
Sept 15: Leaf Peepers: Tim Fain
This acclaimed violin virtuoso’s career has included collaborations with Philip Glass, performances on the scores for Black Swan and 12 Years a Slave, and VR work with Google. The program includes pieces by Bach, Muhly, and Zhurbin, as well as Fain himself.
Hudson Hall, Hudson, 518.822.1438, www.hudsonhall.org
Sept 21: The Hudson Dusters with Special Guest James Hearne
Local extraordinaires on guitar and ukulele, the members of this Hudson-based group play a mix of country, folk, and bluegrass.
Club Helsinki, Hudson, 518.828.4800, www.helsinkihudson.com
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Theater and Dance
Aug 31–Sept 3: Rip Van Winkle
This world premiere by Seth Bockley focuses not only on the man who slept too long, but the many ravers of his home village as well. The company’s first-ever mainstage commission.
Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Boscobel House & Gardens, Garrison, 845.265.9575, www.hvshakespeare.org
Sept 30: Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games
The dancers dance, fiddlers fiddle, and the Fenians spin in their graves. But this features a few twists, and all-new music from Gerard Fahy.
Palace Theatre, Albany, 518.465.4663, www.palacealbany.org
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Art
Through Dec 9: Community and Continuity
An exhibition of contemporary painting, sculpture, and photography, this exhibit focuses on the enduring presence of New York’s indigenous peoples.
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, SUNY New Paltz, 845.257.3844, www.newpaltz.edu/dorskymuseum
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Sept 14–Oct 26: Bring Your Own Sunshine Group Show
This Nancy Daubenspeck-led show focuses on artists inspired by nature.
Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Larchmont, 914.834.8077, www.kbfa.com
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Sept 23–Nov 4: Bejeweled: Mixed Media Abstractions
After a summer of figures and photography, the Gallery is going abstract. Work from Vincent Pomillo, Stephen Walling, Susan Stover, and Sarah Berney. Through Nov 4.
Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, 518.828.1915, www.carriehaddadgallery.com
Film
Sept 5: La Familia
This low-key father-son drama was reportedly the first Venezuelan film to be screened in competition at Cannes. In Spanish with English subtitles. NR.
The Rosendale Theatre Collective, Rosendale, 845.658.8989, www.rosendaletheatre.org
Sept 11: An Education
Set in ’60s London, this Nick Hornby-penned romance finds Carey Mulligan drawn to a man twice her age, played by Peter Sarsgaard. PG-13.
Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville, 914.773.7663, www.burnsfilmcenter.org
Sept 23, 26: An American in Paris
The classic Gene Kelly musical. Inspired by and set to the music of George Gershwin, with a heavy focus on the dancing chops of Kelly and co-star Leslie Caron.
The Rosendale Theatre Collective, Rosendale, 845.658.8989, www.rosendaletheatre.org
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Family
Sept 7–8: Laser Magic
Music and laser lights for an out-of-this-world show in the Museum’s planetarium.
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, 914.963.4550, www.hrm.org
Sept 8–Nov 10: Saturdays at the Woods
Days of kid-focused arts activities for ages 4–13, to help them build skills and exercise their creativity.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, 866.781.2922, www.bethelwoodscenter.org
Sept 15: Hardscrabble Day
Come for the local food, stay for the live music at this annual celebration of the artisans, businesses, and people of Red Hook.
Village of Red Hook, 845.758.108, find them on Facebook
Comedy
Sept 9: An Evening with Groucho​ ​
Frank Ferrante’s award-winning portrayal of the master jokester transforms the legend’s many famous bits, songs, and routines into a 90-minute stage show.
Paramount Hudson Valley, 914.739.0039, www.paramounthudsonvalley.com
Sept 15: Keith Robinson
This “quintessential comedian’s comedian” brings his “back of the bus funny” routine to Poughkeepsie, riffing and improvising on Robinson’s life and the world at large.
Laugh It Up! Comedy Club, inside Mahoney’s Irish Pub, Poughkeepsie, 845.418.3989, www.laughitup.net
Sept 15: Sebastian Maniscalco
Whether you’re hungry for takes on PC-culture or fed up with this overcooked style of comedy, you have to agree: this guest of Conan and The Late Show certainly says what he thinks.
Palace Theatre, Albany, 518.465.4663, www.palacealbany.org
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Sept 27: Lewis Black
If not the most famous comedian, certainly the loudest. Black has hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner, performed at Carnegie Hall, and was a recurring guest on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show.
Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, Peekskill, 914.739.0039, www.paramounthudsonvalley.com
Sept 29: Judy Gold
Storyteller, social critic, and award-winning Shakespearean actor, Gold has debuted specials on HBO and Comedy Central in addition to her work in TV and theater.
Laugh It Up! Comedy Club, inside Mahoney’s Irish Pub, Poughkeepsie, 845.418.3989, www.laughitup.net
Workshops/Classes
Sept 8–9: Bluestone Carving Learn this ancient art’s every step, from seeing your vision in the stone to finishing your masterpiece’s surface. Fee includes box lunch and dinner.
Windham Mountain Resort, Windham, 1.800.754.9463, www.windhamwebstore.com