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GOODNIGHT IRENE! Hurricane Irene Relief Concert Weekend

To benefit the surrounding towns recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Irene.

Saturday, February 18th
Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice
A Night at the Opera

Arias, duets and ensembles from the greatest operas, vocal gems from the world of song and greatest hits from Broadway shows.

Featuring:
Maria Todaro mezzo soprano
Louis, Otey, baritone
Kerry Henderson, baritone
Justin Kolb, piano
The founders of the Phoenicia’s festival will grace the theater once again, inspiring us with voices that have touched nearly every corner of the globe from the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall to Opera Australia.

Sunday, February 19th
Professor Louie and the Cromatix and the Rock of Ages Horns and Ronstadt Generations with special guests guitarist Greg Dayton, the Greene Room Show Choir directed by Linda Nicholls, and more…

“Americana at its best” The Village Voice

This Woodstock quintet Professor Louie and the Cromatix originally formed to serve as the studio backing band for CD’s by Rick Danko, Garth Hudson & Levon Helm, and The Band. Their latest CD Whispering Pines, received no fewer than five Grammy nominations in 2010. Enjoy their rompin stompin’ roots rock, sweet ballads and roadhouse blues led by Professor Louie on keyboards and accordion, joined by Miss Marie on vocals, percussion & Piano, Gary Burke (Bob Dylan, Joe Jackson) on drums, Frank Campbell (Levon Helm, Asleep at The Wheel) on bass, and Josh Colow (Jesse Winchester, Livingston Taylor) on guitar.
Ronstadt Generations

"The music of the Ronstadt Generations family band exemplifies splendidly the inextricable relationships of diverse ethnic folk forms that comprise the beautiful tapestry of American folk music,"
—Stephanie P. Ledgin, Author, “Discovering Folk Music”

Ronstadt Generations represents the multi-cultural roots America was founded upon. Dating back five generations in North America, Michael J. Ronstadt, (younger brother of Linda Ronstadt), continues the family tradition with his two sons, Michael G. and Petie. Each has appeared around the world in performance and on recordings with such diverse artists as Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, the Dixie Hummingbirds, Muriel Anderson, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and countless others.

These three voices -- all multi-instrumentalists and solo artists in their own right -- bring to life a repertoire that reaches back to the end of the 19th century while continually looking ahead into the 21st, with a rich innovation of original material alongside traditional Southwestern and Mexican songs.

THE NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE with Professor Louie and The Cromatix

On Friday December 30th, 2011 Friends of the Orpheum proudly presented THE NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE with Professor Louie and The Cromatix as the first in a series of classic rock performances. The standing-room only crowed was dancing in the aisles.

For the past six years The New Riders have come to the Woodstock area to perform their annual pre-party New Years Concert with their good friends, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix. This year’s event took place at our own new Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville, NY.

The New Riders of the Purple Sage have been on the road with a revived and inspired lineup of musicians, performing new original songs as well as their great repertoire dating back to the years of adoring crowds nationwide. In 2010 the band teamed up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and released its first CD in twenty years, “Where I Come From” (Woodstock Records) to rave reviews. Led by original members David Nelson and Buddy Cage, the new group including guitarist Michael Falzarano (Hot Tuna), bassist Ron Penque, and drummer Johnny Markowski have vowed to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive by taking them to fans everywhere.

The band was joined by Woodstock quintet Professor Louie and the Cromatix originally formed to serve as the studio backing band for CD’s by Rick Danko, Garth Hudson & Levon Helm, and The Band. Their latest CD Whispering Pines, received no fewer than five Grammy nominations in 2010. The standing room only crowd enjoyed their rompin stompin’ roots rock, sweet ballads and roadhouse blues led by Professor Louie on keyboards and accordion, joined by Miss Marie on vocals, percussion & Piano, Gary Burke (Bob Dylan, Joe Jackson) on drums, Frank Campbell (Levon Helm, Asleep at The Wheel) on bass, and Josh Colow (Jesse Winchester, Livingston Taylor) on guitar.

For more info on the performers:
www.thenewriders.com
www.professorlouie.com

DONNA JEAN GODCHAUX BAND (formerly of The Grateful Dead) with Special Guest Jeff Mattson (lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra)

David MacKay – bass, vocals
Joe Chirco – percussion
Freeman White – keyboards, vocals

January 27th, 8pm

Tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Donna Jean Thatcher (vocals) sang at both Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and Fame Studios, home of the legendary “Muscle Shoals Sound,” on records like Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds,” Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” and Boz Scagg’s eponymous first solo album. She moved to San Francisco, married Keith Godchaux, and spent the 1970s as a vocalist in the Grateful Dead as well as the Jerry Garcia Band. After life with the Dead, she and Keith created the Heart of Gold Band with drummer Greg Anton and guitarist Steve Kimock. Following various side trips, she resumed serious focus on her singing in the ‘90s, recording a new Heart of Gold Band album, At the Table, and singing with Phil & Friends and her own Donna Jean Band.

Jeff Mattson (guitar, vocals) came to prominence as the lead guitarist, primary vocalist, and leader of Long Island’s legendary Grateful Dead-influenced jam band, the Zen Tricksters, and is now the lead guitarist for Dark Star Orchestra. Over the course of thirty years, his supple, elegant playing reflected a fusion of rock, blues, bluegrass, country, jazz and folk stylings, along with a healthy dose of psychedelia. His songwriting credits include the exquisitely mournful “Shelter” (co-written with Donna Jean), as well as “Travelin’ Light,” (co-written with Melissa Marston), “He Said/She Said,” (with Donna Jean), and “A Prisoner Says His Piece,” all for Donna Jean and the Tricksters. He also co-wrote with Rob Barracco “Leave Me Out of This” for Phil Lesh and Friends’ There and Back Again. He played with Phil Lesh and Friends in 1999.

David MacKay (bass, vocals) hails from Marin County, California. As part of the emerging Bay Area music scene of the 70′s, he was a founding member of the popular band the Tasmanian Devils and recorded and toured with Michael Nesmith, playing bass on the first Grammy-winning video, “Elephant Parts.” He was a member of both the original and reformed Heart of Gold Band. Most recently, he has played bass with the Muscle Shoals-based group The Fiddleworms.

Joe Chirco (percussion) knew he was born to be a drummer from the Christmas Day, aged five, that he received his first drum set. What makes him positively unique among drummers has been his need to play in many different genres. As most working musicians do, he’s a member of a number of different bands – but few could list bands that have Jazz, Latin, Reggae, and Rock as their main styles. This subtle versatility, along with the soulful power that every rock band needs, has brought him to the DJGBwJM.

Freeman White (keyboards, vocals) came from a musical family, and began his musical journeys at the age of 4, with private instruction that lasted well into adulthood. He started playing professionally at the age of 15. His years of playing have taken him around the world, and have given him the opportunity to share the stage with some of his musical idols. His love of vintage equipment makes for an authentic, warm addition to the band’s sound. Vocally, he adds the “top” end to any arrangement, or “drives the bus” with powerful, heartfelt leads.