Two arts festivals celebrate creative expression in our communities
WOODSTOCK, N.Y. (July 10, 2012) – The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, the renowned arts colony in upstate New York, is hosting the Byrdcliffe Festival of the Arts along with the Drum Boogie Festival in mid-July. These events are open to the public.
The first-ever Byrdcliffe Festival of the Arts will be held from July 13th to 15th and will showcase regional art while also offering 30 fantastic live events that feature the area’s talented artists in a family-friendly environment. These events will take place around Woodstock at historical venues such as the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, Colony Café, the Byrdcliffe Theater, the Loom Room, the Byrdcliffe Barn and Upstate Films.
“These events are great opportunities for music lovers and those with cultural interests to learn more about arts from around the world,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “The diversity and talent that the Byrdcliffe Festival of the Arts and the Drum Boogie Festival bring to our region are world-class, and we’re delighted to have them here. These performances are truly something to see, and we encourage local residents and visitors to our area alike to check out these festivals.”
The Drum Boogie Festival on July 14-15 will take place in the Byrdcliffe Barn and will host two special performances – a Garry and Friends concert and a special instrument-building workshop for kids ages 5-12 called Open Ears. Garry and Friends will take place Saturday, July 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and Open Ears, led by musician and music educator Dave Laks, will take place Sunday, July 15, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Also attending the Drum Boogie Festival will be Russell Hartenberger, a member of Steve Reich and Musicians and Professor of Percussion at the University of Toronto; Chris Earley, a member of the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra and Program Coordinator of the Music Department at SUNY Ulster; Valerie Naranjo, a member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live Band and percussionist with Broadway’s “The Lion King”; and Powhatan Swift Eagle and Matoaka Little Eagle, Native American singers, dancers, storytellers and teaching artists of three local tribes.
For a schedule of events, times and venues, please visit: http://www.byrdcliffefestival.org/schedule.html and www.drumboogiefestival.com
For ticket information, please visit: http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/Search.action?query=byrdcliffe.
For information about festival passes, please visit: http://www.byrdcliffefestival.org/fest-pass1.html.
For all other information about the Byrdcliffe Festival of the Arts or the Drum Boogie Festival, please visit http://www.byrdcliffefestival.org and www.drumboogiefestival.com.
