Croton Point Park became the cornerstone for community spirit, environmental activism and musical celebration this past Saturday, June 14, with the Hudson River Music Festival.
This all-ages event welcomed crowds from across the region for a full day of outdoor festivities inspired by the folk picnics of Toshi and Pete Seeger, the husband and wife team who founded the festival back in 1966.
The mainstage featured an impressive roster of musical talents across genres, from roots, rock and Americana fusion band Grahame Lesh & Friends featuring Rick Mitarotonda (Goose) to four-piece indie pop band Lucius featuring Griffin & Taylor Goldsmith to New Orleans born jazz group Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many more.
Kicking of Hudson River Music Festival was Grammy award winner and folk legend Tom Chapin, David Amram and The Chapin Sisters with a touching tribute to Toshi and Pete Seeger that had festivalgoers holding hands and singing along.
Though persistent clouds and a dreary drizzle plagued the festival, the crowd still gathered around the stage to enjoy performances from Lucius, Grammy award winning folk artist Madison Cunningham, legendary guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, acclaimed multi-genre singer-songwriter Steve Earle, and many more from Hudson River Music Festival’s impressive lineup.
In a celebration of activism, Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the waters of the Hudson and its tributaries, represented a flotilla honoring the annual fish migration and promoting the importance of local clean waters. This celebration also featured a series of colorful boats and a spraying fire boat that drifted down the Hudson to greet the crowd.
The festivities continued as families visited The Rock and Roll Playhouse performance, which featured the live music of Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger for children to dance to while getting their faces painted.
After a full day of fun, festivalgoers gathered one last time not as a crowd, but as a community, for a performance from Grahame Lesh & Friends, who closed out this year’s Hudson River Music Festival.
To keep up with the Hudson River Music Festival for next year’s event, visit here.
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