When: Sunday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m.
Where: Long Dock Park on Beacon’s waterfront
Admission is free, but donations are suggested to benefit ACFM
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the
Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon.
Join the Hudson Valley music community in celebrating the opening of the headquarters for the American Center for Folk Music (ACFM) with a free concert. ACFM will be located in Scenic Hudson’s River House, the restored red “barn” building in Long Dock Park.
The performance will feature folk legends John McCutcheon and Tom Chapin and WC Handy Blues Award winner Joe Louis Walker.
The riverfront City of Beacon has long been a cornerstone of American folk music. Now that relationship is being formally cemented with the ACFM, established one year ago to honor folk legends and to sustain the folk music process as a vibrant part of American culture.
The ACFM benefit concert has been coordinated with the Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Pumpkin Festival, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at nearby Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. Both events are within walking distance of the Metro-North railroad station.
Media inquiries may be directed to wordscapes@optonline.net
About the artists:
John McCutcheon
Pete Seeger said, “John McCutcheon is not only one of the best musicians in the USA, but also a great singer, songwriter and song leader.” No less a figure than Johnny Cash simply called him “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard.” McCutcheon’s 30-plus recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including five Grammy nominations. He is considered the most influential hammered dulcimer player in the country.
Tom Chapin
In a career that spans five decades, 24 albums and three Grammy awards, multi-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Chapin, a Hudson Valley resident, has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway and worked extensively in films, television and radio.
Joe Louis Walker
Multiple Grammy and WC Handy Blues Award winner Joe Louis Walker is one of the most heralded blues artists of our time. Walker has recorded with BB King, James Cotton, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Branford Marsalis and Ike Turner. Walker has become an international ambassador for the blues overseas, having played at countless festivals throughout Europe, South America, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. Walker is already being referred to within the blues world as a “living legend.” However, as Walker himself would say, “the best is yet to come!”