Rivertowns Tune Up for Music Extravaganza
Rivertowns Tune Up for Music Extravaganza
The annual music festival brings live performances to Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, and Tarrytown
by Sunny Harris
Rivertowns (Hastings-on Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Tarrytown) — Since the very first RiverArts Music Tour in 2014, Hastings resident Adam Hart has perfected the art of creating a singular festival that offers a full day of music with enough variety to appeal to people of all ages and musical tastes. Not only that, but the music tour — scheduled this year for Saturday, June 1, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. —is free. (Rain date: Sunday, June 2).
The tour takes place in Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, and Tarrytown, with special performances for kids at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The multitude of stages includes parks, plazas, and restaurants as well as porches and back yards.
“It’s a great way to have a peek at private homes and gorgeous gardens you’ve walked past but never visited,” says Hart, who is producing his ninth Music Tour and was recently recognized by RiverArts for his significant contributions to the arts community. “RiverArts is grateful for the dedicated community members who open their porches and lawns to host a concert!”
“People often wonder how I’m able to line up and coordinate over 90 musical performances [comprised of 320 musicians] at 30-plus locations to keep the sounds flowing for an entire day. I do it with the help of a great team at RiverArts,” Hart explains, “and a deep network of musicians who willingly perform for no charge in order to create this amazing event.”
In the spirit of making this truly a community experience, Hart, himself a musician and guitar teacher, serves as the only “jurist” at this non-juried event. Over the course of a month, he listens to each and every digital file and link submitted.
How does he select whom to invite? “Anyone who registers will have a spot if they get their submission in on time, unless we run out of venues. I do give preference to Rivertowns locals.”
This approach translates to a day of music provided by an eclectic mix of newbies as well as Grammy Award winners who call the Rivertowns home. The tour features music for young children as well as bands comprised of teens. “As important as it is to have music for families, it’s critical for our teens to have a platform for expression,” adds Hart.
Whatever genre you favor, be it chamber music, rock, folk, jazz, bluegrass, electronic, or African and world music, you can find it on the tour. (Click here for a map to the venues and schedule of performances.)
RiverArts Executive Director Josh Suniewick sees the music tour as a gift to the communities served by the nonprofit. “The artists donate their time and talents to bring us together through art,” he told the Rivertowns Current. “RiverArts donates its time and resources to help the folks in our communities access all the amazing musical talent living in our villages. The enhanced foot traffic that the ‘main street’ sites attract is a boost to the villages’ small businesses.”
Grant money from foundations and organizations, particularly from this year’s ArtsWestchester's Arts Alive Grant, really make the music tour possible. RiverArts also relies on corporate sponsors and individual donors giving small amounts to support the tour when they RSVP at www.riverartsmusictour.com.
For Hart, the most important aspect of the music tour is how it brings out the best of the Rivertowns communities. All the performers are on the same footing. They come out to support each other and watch friends, neighbors, and young people intermingle with award-winning musical pros. You may find yourself asking, “Who’s that?” only to realize that it’s veteran jazz drummer Eliot Zigmund, age 79, playing drums with the David Janeway Quartet.
Hart offers a couple of strategies for making the most of what might seem like an overwhelming amount of music to choose from. “You could set up in one place,” he says. “Pop open a bottle of wine, dig into your picnic basket, and delight in the various performers playing at that venue.” He adds, “Or, you could pick a favorite genre and create a plan that will take you from town to town, venue to venue, to see as many acts as you can fit in to your schedule while exploring along the way.”
Whichever strategy makes sense to you, you may as well plan on spending June 1 enjoying music in the Rivertowns because even if you stay home, you won’t be able to avoid the ubiquitous, heavenly sounds emanating from this year’s RiverArts Music Tour.
Looking for another way to support Rivertowns Current?