About Us

 

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild, Inc.

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild was formed in July 1979.  It is a member-run nonprofit 501C corporation dedicated to the following goals:

  1. To generate and maintain community interest in folk music
  2. To provide community service through performing for nonprofit and charitable organizations
  3. To give its performing members the opportunity to develop their talents through community performance.

Hudson Valley Folk Guild Facts

  1. In July, 2019, we will reach a major milestone – our 40th year in operation
  2. Over 450 members
  3. The longest continuous running open mic in the Hudson Valley since July 1979
  4. Over 125 practicing musicians
  5. Over 80 of our members have produced professional recordings (CDs, YouTube)
  6. Over 2,000 people attend 40 performances each year
  7. Our website is www.hudsonvalleyfolkguild.org.  We are also on Facebook
  8. We are members of the Mid-Hudson Arts Council
  9. Since 2016, we have presented a scholarship to a student majoring in music

Chapters

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild is made up of four chapter organizations and a central board of directors.  The Kingston, Rock Tavern and Poughkeepsie chapters present open-stage coffeehouses with a featured performer one Saturday of each month (see below).  The Friends of Fiddler’s Green chapter’s purpose is to present and bring the best among the touring musicians – regionally, nationally and internationally to the Hudson Valley.

Kingston Chapter Coffeehouse performances 1st Saturday, Sept – June
Rock Tavern Coffeehouse performances 2nd Saturday, Sept – June
Poughkeepsie Chapter Coffeehouse performances 3rd Saturday, Sept – May

For more information and directions to all our events, please contact us at 845-229-0170 or email hvfolks@aol.com or visit us on the web at hudsonvalleyfolkguild.org and on Facebook.

Short History

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild, from its inception on July 29, 1979 has been dedicated to generating and maintaining interest in folk music throughout the region, and providing folk musicians with opportunities to develop their talents through community performance. In addition, the Folk Guild has organized and participated in hundreds of benefit performances for a great many charitable organizations and nursing homes.

Beginning with just a handful of pickers, strummers and singers, the Hudson Valley Folk Guild has grown its membership to over 450! From September to June, Guild members host three area coffeehouses monthly in Kingston, Rock Tavern and Poughkeepsie. In addition, the guild hosts a concert series at the Hyde Park Methodist Church featuring some of the best-known nationally touring folk musicians today and an annual summer concert “Beyond a Simple Folk Song.”

Vision for the future of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild

We want to become a “world class” folk music organization nationally recognized for:

  1. Folk music advocacy in general
  2. Producing high quality events
  3. Encouraging amateur folk performers
  4. Finding and nurturing new folk songwriters
  5. Producing high quality publications