| Celebrating Music, Community, and Environmental Action |
| On Sunday June 21, the Hudson River Music Festival took over Croton Point Park on Father’s Day for a full day of live music, family activities, celebration and outdoor fun. Presented by Harper House Music Foundation, Riverfest FPS (For Pete’s Sake), and Dayglo and rooted in the spirit of Toshi and Pete Seeger’s folk picnics, the festival returned for a second year to bring together music lovers, environmental advocates, and families for a vibrant celebration. The all-ages festival united people in a gathering fueled by a shared love for the river, music, and activism. From the musical performances to community-driven experiences, the festival continues to carry the torch of a beloved tradition in the Hudson Valley area. Mainstage headliner and folk musician and four-time Grammy nominee Jesse Welles performed a moving tribute to Pete Seeger on the Hudson Stage to close out the festival by singing “This Land is Your Land”. Other headliners included genre defying “Cosmic Country” artist Daniel Donato, Allman Brothers band member Warren Haynes, Margo Price, and Grahame Lesh. Modeled after Seeger’s original vision, the festival brought together a new wave of folk and Americana voices carrying that mission forward and using their platforms to reflect and shape the evolving American story. The Rainbow Stage hosted staple Americana acts carrying forward a rich family folk tradition and celebrating musical heritage and community. Attendees could catch sets from Tom Chapin & The Chapin Sisters or the Gutherie Family Singers. Composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram, whose career spans decades of American music history, performed, as did Damaris Bojor, a rising star in the Mexican music scene and creator of the innovative new genre “Folkpirano.” Leah Song, American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, poet, and activist, known as one of the frontwomen of Rising Appalachia, shared a touching performance before The Ebony Hillbillies brought their unique African-American string band tradition. The North Star Stage served as a cultural hub focused on activities and family fun. Young music fans rocked out with The Rock and Roll Playhouse, Bash The Trash, and Yoga sessions! Families were able to get creative in the Kids & Family Arts & Crafts Area, and join the participatory Circle of Song. Roaming performances from Arm of the Sea, a whimsical Fish Migration with puppets and puppeteers from the Jim Henson Studios, New Vaudevillain (stilts and magic), and Nate the Great (music and juggling) popped up throughout the day. The North Field transformed into a hub for advocacy, education, and action as well hosting a curated selection of community environmental organizations, grassroots activist groups, and a high-level panel on Climate Change. From hands-on creativity to river-inspired spectacle, the festival offered a vibrant, multi-generational celebration. Committed to an inclusive experience for all guests, the festival offered ADA parking, accessible shuttles (including to Croton-Harmon Train Station), and accessible viewing areas at both stages, including an elevated platform on the main stage. ASL interpreters signed alongside all Hudson Stage and Rainbow Stage performances. Festival Highlights:The festival started with a performance by Toshi Reagon – Pete Seeger’s goddaughter – who sang a powerful ballad on equal rights and equal access for all humans no matter race, gender, or ethnicity. SNACKTIME opened their set on the Hudson Stage by acknowledging the Algonquian Tribe native to Croton NY where the festival grounds took place The Walkabout Clearwater Chorus roamed the festival grounds throughout the day performing protest and activist songs. Grammy nominated Cuban artist Cimafunk brought festival-goers onto the Hudson stage to dance with him as he closed out his high-energy set in the afternoon The Riverkeeper Fish Migration Celebration walked across the festival grounds, weaving between activist tents, food vendors, and festival stages. The annual parade blends arts and community engagement to protect the Hudson river and life. After a brief rain interlude in the afternoon, a rainbow emerged to shine down on the festival – an important fixture to Pete Seeger and his legacy. Grahame Lesh shared opening remarks on the festivals’ first ever Climate Change Panel. The last musical artist to participate in an environmental cause panel during the festival was during Pete Seeger’s tenure. The festival was made possible by the dedication and hard work of 150 volunteers. From managing shifts and assisting with accessibility to educating attendees about composting and creating moments of joy for families, these volunteers brought Pete Seeger’s vision of community to life. Families flocked to the North Star Stage where The Rock and Roll Playhouse and Bash the Trash hosted two performances. Kids danced to live music of The Beatles and the Grateful Dead in addition to listening to live music from instruments made from repurposed materials. During Daniel Donato, Grahame Lesh, and Warren Haynes’ set Margo Price and Jesse Welles made a special appearance with the trio on stage to perform Pete Seeger’s “If I Had a Hammer” as a beautiful tribute to the festival’s origins. Headliner Jesse Welles’ closed out the evening with a moving rendition of “This Land is Your Land” alongside fellow musicians Grahame Lesh, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Serena Guthrie, Robin Irion, Daniel Donato, Warren Haynes, Rik Palieri, Margo Price, and more. For more information, please visit harperhousemusicfoundation.org, and RiverFest FPS (For Pete’s Sake) (RFPS), a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, co-founded by Mitzi Elkes, Hal Cohen and Roy Volpe, is the promoter of the Hudson River Music Festival (HRMF). RFPS’s mission is to create and operate a multi-cultural music festival dedicated to educating attendees about environmental issues and a sustainable planet. Honoring the legacy of Pete and Toshi Seeger, the HRMF, through a blend of music, art, and activism, inspiring environmental stewardship, social justice, and community engagement while celebrating the Hudson River’s profound cultural and ecological importance. |
