Hudson Valley Folk Guild

Poughkeepsie Chapter: Simon Elijah
2026-05-16 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Fellowship, Poughkeepsie, 67 S. Randolph Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603, United States
The Poughkeepsie Chapter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild
will host our monthly coffeehouse on
Saturday, May 16, 2026
at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

This month we are proud to be featuring Simon Elijah.

Born and raised in upstate NY, Simon Elijah is a young Americana singer and songwriter with a clever wit and passion for storytelling. Simon blends the powerful simplicity of folk icons such as John Prine with a soaring lyricism inspired by contemporary greats such as Brandi Carlile and Jason Isbell. The result is an emerging talent who offers listeners an array of songs that are timeless, catchy, and deeply felt. His live performances are generously seasoned with humor and audience participation. Simon got his first guitar when he was 11 years old, and has been playing ever since. His debut album, Fly Out, was released in 2025 and his second album, Nameless, is scheduled for release in May 2026 with a summer tour to follow! Simon is currently a student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. where he is taking classes in a wide variety of subject areas. Outside of music and school, Simon enjoys many other hobbies such as woodworking, running, cycling and almost anything outdoors.

OPEN MIC

Open mic performances will be available for all.
Signup begins at 6:30 and open mic begins at 7:00.
The featured performance is expected to begin at approximately 8:00.
Cost of admission for this event is $7 ($6 for Folk Guild members and seniors).
Questions? Contact the President of the Poughkeepsie Chapter, John Hamilton, at birdman566@aol.com.

New Paltz Chapter: Pat Lamanna
2026-05-23 19:00 - 22:00 | Redeemer Lutheran Church, New Paltz, 90 New York 32 S, New Paltz, NY, United States
The New Paltz Chapter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild welcomes you to our
2025-2026 Coffeehouse Series
on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Our featured performers are
Pat Lamanna and Kevin and Carol Becker

This month’s open mic coffeehouse at the Redeemer church in New Paltz will have a special dimension to it. In the feature slot, Pat Lamanna and Kevin & Carol Becker will present a tribute to Judy Salerno who passed about a year ago and was a long time HVFG volunteer and stalwart. They will present some of Judy’s favorite songs, some traditional and others by folk luminaries such as Tom Paxton, Pat Humphries, and Richard Thompson.
Pat Lamanna is a long-time member of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild, and was President of the Friends of Fiddlers Green Chapter when Judy Salerno was Treasurer and booking agent. She is an award-winning singer-songwriter.
Kevin & Carol Becker: Start with deep roots in traditional folk music, add musical versatility, mix in both historical and contemporary themes, all seasoned with a healthy dose of good-natured humor, then sit back and enjoy a performance by Kevin & Carol Becker!

OPEN MIC

Open mic performances will be available for all.
Signup begins at 6:30pm and open mic begins at 7:00pm.
The featured performance is expected to begin at approximately 8:00.
Cost of admission for this event is $7 ($6 for Folk Guild members and seniors)
Questions? Contact the President of the New Paltz Chapter, Sharon Klein at HVSongwriter@gmail.com

Open Mic via Zoom: Lynda and Bruce
2026-06-06 19:00 - 22:00 | Zoom
Lynda Sales started singing as soon as she could talk. She took classical piano for most of her childhood. At thirteen, she started playing the guitar and singing folk songs, plus a bit of rock and roll. As an adult, she sang in many area musicals. After being sidelined from the guitar due to a badly broken wrist, she learned to play the ukulele, which is now her instrument of choice. Lynda sang covers until four years ago, when she started writing her own songs … finally.
Bruce Engholm started out playing the guitar. When Lynda switched to the uke (at his urging) he made the change as well. His favorite instrument is the banjolele. He studied Bluegrass style fingerpicking last year. Lynda feels it adds a lot to her songs.
Lynda & Bruce perform at local and Zoom open mics regularly, play with a Gospel group, various uke groups, and at some local venues. After a lot of procrastination, they are starting to record their music.
Lynda & Bruce live in Kingston, N.Y. with a dog, two cats and a tortoise.

Connect via Zoom:
Topic: HVFG 4th Saturday Open Mic via Zoom

For the Zoom link, please signup for our email newsletters, or contact Ethan Campbell at ethan.1247@gmail.com.

OPEN MIC
Music starts at 7:00, but if you arrive at 6:45 you can spend some time catching up with friends, helping each other sound check, and just generally enjoying the mellow Folk Guild vibe.
Ethan Campbell will be the Zoom maestro, so if you’re a musician and you’re planning to perform, let Ethan know as soon as you come in from the Waiting Room. He’ll get you into the next available slot. Everybody gets two songs or eight (8) minutes, whichever comes first.

Rock Tavern Chapter: Mike and Emmy Clarke
2026-06-13 19:00 - 22:00 | Unitarian Fellowship, Rock Tavern, 9 Vance Road, Rock Tavern, NY, 12575, United States
The Rock Tavern Chapter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild
will host our monthly coffeehouse on
Saturday, June 13, 2026.

This month we are proud to be featuring Mike and Emmy Clarke.

Drawing on folk rock and rhythym and blues influences, including The Band, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, Beyond the Ridge plays a combination of classic and original songs uniting harmony and unique instrumental arrangements. Beyond the Ridge is Michael Clarke, Emmy Hastings, Jim Pospisil, Paul Rubeo and Paul W Rubeo.

OPEN MIC

Open mic performances will be available to all.
Cost of admission for this event is $7 ($6 for Folk Guild members and seniors). Signup begins at 6:30pm and open mic begins at 7:00. The featured performance is expected to begin at approximately 8:00.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern is located in the Town of New Windsor at 9 Vance Road, Rock Tavern, NY, off Route 207, 3.4 miles west of Rte 300; or take I-84 to Exit 5A, Rte 747 south to Rte 207, make a right and take the second left.
For more information contact the President of the Rock Tavern Chapter, James Leo, at jamesleo760@gmail.com.

Twilight Music in the Parks 2026: Jim Pospisil
2026-06-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza, 87 Haviland Road, Highland, New York, 12528
Jim Pospisil has been performing throughout the Hudson Valley since the 1970’s, both as a solo artist and with various bands. A singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist, his songs seamlessly bring together musical arrangements with compelling lyrics that can be humorous or tragic, sensitive or cutting, all drawn from a well of personal experience. His performances on guitar, mandolin, flute and harmonica can be soft and subtle, or wild and energetic. His songs can make you laugh, cry, or think. Sometimes all at once.
He performs a wide range of cover songs as well, often with surprising and unexpected arrangements.
Jim is the ultimate artist and entertainer, and continues to gain new fans everywhere he performs.

About Twilight Music in the Parks
Come enjoy free live music from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild at the Walkway Over the Hudson this summer!

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild will be providing the New York State Office of Parks with outdoor music on select Wednesday evenings for “Twilight Music in the Parks”. Performances are from 6pm–7pm at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza.
Concerts are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and stay awhile.
Concerts are weather permitting. For updates see parks.ny.gov.
Hope to see you there!

New Paltz Chapter: Marji Zintz
2026-06-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Redeemer Lutheran Church, New Paltz, 90 New York 32 S, New Paltz, NY, United States
The New Paltz Chapter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild welcomes you to our
2025-2026 Coffeehouse Series
on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Our featured performer is
Marji Zintz.

Acoustic guitarist and vocalist Marji Zintz, living and performing in the Catskills/Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York, is a captivating interpreter of song whose performances blend the intimacy of folk, the sophistication of jazz, and the heartfelt storytelling of the singer-songwriter tradition. She has built a devoted following for her warm, clear voice and deeply sensitive musicianship, bringing fresh life to everything from beloved standards to unexpected contemporary gems. With an ear for the emotional core of a song, Marji delivers performances that feel both personal and universal, drawing audiences in with her subtle phrasing and unforced authenticity. You can learn more about her, hear some samples, watch some videos, and see her tour schedule at www.marjizintz.com
“Marji puts an indelibly personal stamp on songs from such diverse writers as Aimee Mann, Mark Knopfler, and George Gershwin, and accompanies her voice with sophisticated and skillful guitar work.” ~The Folk Project

OPEN MIC

Open mic performances will be available for all.
Signup begins at 6:30pm and open mic begins at 7:00pm.
The featured performance is expected to begin at approximately 8:00.
Cost of admission for this event is $7 ($6 for Folk Guild members and seniors)
Questions? Contact the President of the New Paltz Chapter, Sharon Klein at HVSongwriter@gmail.com

Twilight Music in the Parks 2026: Elly Wininger
2026-07-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza, 87 Haviland Road, Highland, New York, 12528
Elly Wininger is a New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee, acoustic and slide guitarist, and songwriter known for her roots in the Greenwich Village Folk and Blues scene.
Wininger was a regular on the Greenwich Village scene back in the day, and even played the opening night at the legendary CBGB’s. She was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame in 2014, and her album The Blues Never End (2021) spent over four months in the top six albums on the Roots Music Report’s Acoustic Blues chart, with several weeks at Number One.
She was a semifinalist in the 2023 International Blues Competition, following a win in the Hudson Valley Blues Society Solo/Duo Challenge.
Beyond performing, Wininger has produced award-winning music documentaries for public radio and hosted radio shows. She is the creator of the “Our Song” program which empowers people of all ages and abilities to write their own songs.

About Twilight Music in the Parks
Come enjoy free live music from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild at the Walkway Over the Hudson this summer!

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild will be providing the New York State Office of Parks with outdoor music on select Wednesday evenings for “Twilight Music in the Parks”. Performances are from 6pm–7pm at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza.
Concerts are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and stay awhile.
Concerts are weather permitting. For updates see parks.ny.gov.
Hope to see you there!

Twilight Music in the Parks 2026: Storm King Skyline
2026-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza, 87 Haviland Road, Highland, New York, 12528
Storm King Skyline:
Kevin & Carol Becker, Rich Keyes, Ken & Linda Sheehan
Start with deep roots in traditional folk music, add musical versatility, mix in both historical and contemporary themes, all seasoned with a healthy dose of good-natured humor, then enjoy a performance by Storm King Skyline.
A newly formed musical group, Storm King Skyline has developed a unique sound that combines breathtaking vocals, instrumental dexterity, and a synergy that comes only from an intimate knowledge of each other’s talents. That sound starts with Kevin’s intricate finger picked guitar, augmented by his impeccable harmonica playing. Carol’s soaring vocals – clear, bright, and pure, stand out when singing solo and form compelling harmonies with Kevin and Ken’s baritone voices. Ken adds the skillful touch of a virtuoso on guitar and the sound is all anchored by Rich’s solid rhythms on upright bass and his driving bluegrass-influenced banjo. They feature Linda on tambourine and light percussion. Carol adds other instruments as well, notably mountain dulcimer, recorder, bodhran, and Appalachian limber horse. Their repertoire ranges from historical ballads to songs of social significance and from traditional folk songs to the original songs of the band members. Storm King Skyline has an easy manner and relaxed stage presence which encourages audience participation and contributes to their entertaining performances.

About Twilight Music in the Parks
Come enjoy free live music from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild at the Walkway Over the Hudson this summer!

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild will be providing the New York State Office of Parks with outdoor music on select Wednesday evenings for “Twilight Music in the Parks”. Performances are from 6pm–7pm at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza.
Concerts are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and stay awhile.
Concerts are weather permitting. For updates see parks.ny.gov.
Hope to see you there!

"Beyond a Simple Folk Song" Concert 2026
2026-07-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Redeemer Lutheran Church, New Paltz, 90 New York 32 S, New Paltz, NY, United States
Beyond A Simple Folk Song
An evening of original songwriting and compositions
celebrating the Hudson Valley, Catskills, and
America’s 250th Anniversary.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Time: Doors open 6:30 PM | Program begins 7:00 PM with short intermission
Location: Redeemer Lutheran Church, 90 New York 32 South, New Paltz, NY 12561
$15 at the door for members
$20 for non-members, refreshments will be serviced by donation

About the Event
The Hudson Valley Folk Guild is proud to present Beyond A Simple Folk Song, a special concert event featuring six local songwriters: Kurt Henry/Cheryl Lambert, Sharon Klein, Dorraine Scofield, Bill Buttner, Lisa Markley and Fran Palmieri. Each will perform three original compositions inspired by the history and landscapes of the Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.
Kevin Becker will present two short instrumental pieces for flute and piano that he recently composed. What makes these pieces special is that the melodies are derived from five songs written by four distinct HVFG songwriters from across our 47 year history. These pieces will feature Lynnette Benner on flute and Adam Gloc on piano. The program is offered in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Featured Guest: Susan Stessin-Cohn

Town Historian Susan Stessin-Cohn will serve as moderator for the evening, weaving the musical performances together with stories and historical context drawn from the archives of the region. Her presence will enrich the program with a living connection to the history that inspired the songs.
For further information contact:
Sharon Klein HVSongwriter@gmail.com

Performers:
Kurt Henry/Cheryl Lambert

Kurt Henry & Cheryl Lambert
Cheryl and Kurt are a tight, mostly acoustic country-rock guitar/harmonica duet with a diverse repertoire of topical songs, ballads, and stories both new and old. The are a much beloved anchor of the Hudson Valley music scent. Kurt, an inventive country-rock guitarist playing in several styles, started performing out in 1967, opening for acts including Loudon Wainwright III at the Village Gaslight and Jim Kweskin, later, at Kenny’s Castaways.
After moving to the Hudson Valley, he led the Womblers, opening for acts like Procol Harum, The Byrds, Asleep at the Wheel, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Sebastian, David Bromberg, etc. Cheryl brings sweet harmonies, melodic harmonica, and tight percussion. You can learn more at www.kurthenry.com.

Sharon Klein
Sharon Klein
Sharon Klein is a local singer/songwriter and new President of the New Paltz chapter of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild. A veteran of the Greenwich Village music scene of the 80s, Sharon has worn several different hats in her long life as a professional musician, from staff songwriter to record producer, to backup singer. Both introspective and cutting, her songs reflect her 25 years of living in the beautiful Hudson Valley, as well as her world travels to over 40 countries. Her influences run from Mary Chapin Carpenter to Lucinda Williams, all infused with tastefully accomplished acoustic guitar playing. To hear more, visit her at SharonSongs.com

Dorraine Scofield

Dorraine Scofield
Dorraine Scofield has lived and played music in the Catskill Mountains for her entire life. She sings, plays violin, viola, mandolin and guitar. She currently manages and performs in the band Thunder Ridge as well as performing her original songs in duos or trios with her partner JB Hunt.
Dorraine and JB have taken the stage with many national acts, made many radio appearances as well as appearing numerous times on The Food Network and other channels. They perform a wide variety of songs including her own acoustic alternative tunes. Covers include soft rock, folk, jazz and country mixes.
Visit her at http://www.dorraine.com/

Bill Buttner

Bill Buttner
Bill Buttner is a singer songwriter who hails from Ulster County. He has opened for Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, as well as Ellis Paul. His heartfelt, deeply personal songwriting has been compared some of the greats including John Price Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Earle. Bill proudly owns a guitar signed by Pete Seeger.
https://www.facebook.com/billbuttnermusic/

Lisa Markley

Lisa Markley
Lisa Markley is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. She is also an extraordinary jazz singer, in a class with any of the classic singers we grew up with. She is a graduate of the school of music at the University of North Texas, where she played trombone in the Lab Bands, sang with the Jazz Singers, studied composition, vocal jazz pedagogy, and music education.
Markley has been touring internationally over the last 25 years as a singer-songwriter, and as a jazz vocalist. She spent eleven years signed with the Soona Songs record label, defying category in pursuit of the perfect song, often covering songs by friends, in addition to her own pieces. She is also 1/3 of the roots music/Americana trio “The Malvinas”, where she also plays old-time claw hammer banjo; a multi-talent if there ever was one!
https://lisamarkley.com/

Fran Palmieri

Fran Palmeri
Fran Palmeri is a much loved and prolific Hudson Valley songwriter, best known for his 15 year stint with his band Trio Mio which featured Terri and Steve Massardo. Fran has written literally hundreds of songs on many different topics including a biographical album about Abraham Lincoln. He will be gracing us with 3 new songs specially written for this historic event.

Kevin Becker

Kevin Becker will present two short instrumental pieces for flute and piano that he recently composed. What makes these pieces special is that the melodies are derived from five songs written by four distinct HVFG songwriters from across our 47 year history. These pieces will feature Lynnette Benner on flute and Adam Gloc on piano. The program is offered in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The first piece is entitled, “HVFG – 45.” It was written to mark the 45th anniversary of the Hudson Valley Folk Guild in 2024. The piece was originally scored for violin and piano and effectively merged two songs by Hudson Valley Folk Guild songwriters Kevin Becker and Pat Lamanna.
The second piece is entitled “Looking Back” and is a piece for flute and piano that features quotations from original songs by three Hudson Valley Folk Guild songwriters. The quotations were taken from “Uncle Bill” by Bruce Morrison, “Walkway Over the Hudson” by Pat Lamanna, and “Eye in the Sky” by Jim Pospisil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5xKFY8_nk8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzgfMrwGtEs

Lynnette Benner
Lynnette Benner

Lynnette Benner began playing flute at the ripe old age of eleven. An avid horse lover, she earned an A.A.S. Equine Science and worked in that field for eleven years while continuing to play and perform. Returning to college, she earned a B.S. Music Performance, Flute, from SUNY New Paltz. She studied with Marcia Gates, Lynn Cunningham, Sarah Trautman, and Gary Schocker. Lynnette teaches Flute, Oboe, Chamber Music, and Kindermusik. She also can be heard on movie soundtracks and CDs.
Lynnette works at an Equine Hospital, is studying to become and LVT and lives in Pleasant Valley, NY with her dog, three horses, and two cats all of whom are rescues.

Adam Gloc
Adam Gloc
Adam Gloc is a pianist music director, composer, arranger, multi instrumentalist and producer from Rockland County NY.
Upon starting piano lessons at 9 years old with Jordan E Spivack, Adam realized he found what he loved to do for the rest of his life. Beginning his professional career at 12 years old, the young musician turned composer fully immersed himself in all genres and styles of music he could get his hands on before eventually graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a dual degree in Piano Performance and Music Composition studying with Alex Peh and Vince Martucci.
Now at age 32, Adam wears many hats in his career as a private/school music teacher, Studio/Live Musician(Notable artists include Jazz Legend Richie Hart, English classic rock band Jook, rappers CX(Break Science) and Jeff Turner, Celtic Violinist Eileen Ivers(Cherish The Ladies/River Dance) and Nina Simone’s former music director/brother Sam Waynon) and film score composer.(Riding With Sunshine(2018) Virgin Marge(post production expected release 2023) No stranger to musical theatere, Adam has worked with broadway heavy hitters Maya Days(Aida, Rent), Rita Harvey(Phantom, Fiddler) Neil Berg(The Twelve) and Anika Larsen(Avenue Q, Almost Famous) while earring theatere credits as additional composer for “Lipa On Broadway”(Town Hall Theatere 2013) Music Director/additional Composer for Life Insurance the Musical(Off Broadway Symphony Space 2020), Music Director/co composer for Catching Fireflies Off Broadway(The Players Theater 2025) and keyboard 2 at the Sharon Playhouse for their production of Beauty and the Beast.(Regional 2019).

Twilight Music in the Parks 2026: Betty and the Baby Boomers
2026-08-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza, 87 Haviland Road, Highland, New York, 12528
Based in the Hudson Valley, Betty and the Baby Boomers (Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard) came together back in 1987 through their work for Clearwater. The group has been praised regionally – they “sing and play old-school folk like it was brand spanking new” (Kingston’s Daily Freeman); nationally – “a refreshing reminder of the halcyon days of American folk music” (Sing Out!); and internationally, with many bookings over decades at Clifden Arts Week, a long-running festival in Ireland. The group wraps distinctive four-part harmonies and sparkling guitar and Dobro licks around songs from Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, and others who inspired their generation, plus original and contemporary material in that tradition. According to Wanda Fischer, host of WAMC’s Hudson River Sampler, “Everything Betty and the Baby Boomers present, whether in person or on a recording, is guaranteed to be exquisite, fresh, and astounding. They were destined to sing together. How fortunate are we, as listeners, that they do.”
bbabyboomers@aol.com
www.bettyandthebabyboomers.com
https://www.facebook.com/BettyandtheBabyBoomers/

About Twilight Music in the Parks
Come enjoy free live music from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild at the Walkway Over the Hudson this summer!

The Hudson Valley Folk Guild will be providing the New York State Office of Parks with outdoor music on select Wednesday evenings for “Twilight Music in the Parks”. Performances are from 6pm–7pm at the Walkway Over the Hudson’s Ulster Welcome Center Plaza.
Concerts are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring a lawn chair and stay awhile.
Concerts are weather permitting. For updates see parks.ny.gov.
Hope to see you there!
