Be sure to check out our Performer Videos. Our artist sketches are coming soon so be sure to check in again...
HUDSON WEST FOLK FESTIVAL
In addition to presenting Grammy award winners and other top performers from throughout New York and North America, also on display were beautifully original stage backdrops and artwork throughout the venue. A special treat were the free music workshops for aspiring musicians and songwriters held by Mary Gauthier, and others. The Improvisational Singing workshop was quite popular this year.
A blend of art, community and music.
This year's music festival was held on September 14, 2019 at the same wonderful location of Grace Church, 39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ.
PERFORMERS
“Hudson West Folk Festival, in just its third year, has managed to assemble a mind-boggling array of singer/songwriter talent. Just saying the names Mary Gauthier, David Olney and Sam Baker in the same sentence is akin to quoting from the Book of Tao. Then you throw in Vance Gilbert and Jonathan Byrd? Just say the word sublime. Susan McKeown has a Grammy? Say what? Jean Rohe … is the folk version of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. My heart explodes. Taarka blew minds at NERFA last year and Sophie Buskin — the daughter of David Buskin — is folk royalty and my favorite new brilliant singer/songwriter. If eating french fries is your idea of “Francophile,” then it’s time you got a taste of the brilliant French Canadian band, Les Poules a’ Colin”
- Richard Cucarro, Acoustic Live
Our 2019 lineup included Mary Gauthier, David Olney, Vance Gilbert, Susan McKeown, Jean Rohe, Sam Baker, Taarka, Sophie Buskin, Rosier (formerly Les Poules à Colin). See PERFORMERS page for videos and more information.
Sunny War in front of stage artwork
MELDING OF MUSIC AND ART
Once again, the Hudson West music festival presented beautifully original stage backdrops, local artist's works throughout the venue, and our wonderful, roving sketch artists captured the moment.
"...the organizers managed to scale the pinnacle of art-meets-organization... it was stunning."
-Fred Volkert
FREE MUSIC WORKSHOPS
Free workshops, all by musicians performing at the festival, provided an extraordinary opportunity to learn from some of the finest and most unique musicians of North America. The workshops included songwriting with a Grammy award winning songwriter. And, storytelling from one of the finest, most succinct songwriters in the biz. Others taught improvisational singing. There was even a workshop about the music of Quebec. See our Music Workshops page for details.
Open Jam
We started the festival with an open drop-in jam at 12:30 pm on the Workshop stage. Folks brought along their acoustic instruments and jammed with local string band, The Go Bailers.
HUDSON WEST FEST RECOMMENDS
From time to time, the curators of the Hudson West Fest provide recommendations of other music in the NYC area. These are often those intimate, hard to find venues with high quality music. Enjoy!