Phoenicia Playhouse Presents Flying Cat Monthly Music Series

James Keelaghan with David Woodhead on Saturday March 29th 

PHOENICIA — Announcing the kickoff of its 2025 Flying Cat Music Series with an unforgettable performance by acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan, accompanied by the talented David Woodhead. The Phoenicia Playhouse is thrilled to become the new home of Flying Cat Music, a beloved series renowned throughout the Catskill Mountains for showcasing some of the best touring acts in Americana, singer-songwriters, and bluegrass. 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: James Keelaghan with David Woodhead 

● Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 

● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

James Keelaghan, Hailed as Canada’s finest singer-songwriter, James Keelaghan is a luminary in the folk and roots music scene. For nearly 25 years, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his lyrical storytelling, masterful musicianship, and distinctive voice. Known as a poet laureate of folk music, Keelaghan seamlessly blends passionate narratives with meticulously crafted melodies, earning him a place among the international singer-songwriter elite. https://keelaghan.com 

Blue Cactus on Saturday April 19th, 2025 

The Phoenicia Playhouse is thrilled to be the new home of Flying Cat Music, a beloved series renowned throughout the Catskill Mountains for showcasing some of the best touring acts in Americana, singer-songwriters, and bluegrass. 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Blue Cactus 

● Date: Saturday, April 19th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 ● Tickets: $20 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Short Artist Bio: 

“Blue Cactus brings an electrified twang to folk, alt-country, and psychedelic rock, earning critical acclaim and a devoted following. With their third album, Believer, dropping April 25, their dynamic sound continues to captivate audiences nationwide.” 

The Rick Reyes Trio on Saturday May 24th, 2025 

The Phoenicia Playhouse is thrilled to be the new home of Flying Cat Music, a beloved series renowned throughout the Catskill Mountains for showcasing some of the best touring acts in Americana, singer-songwriters, and bluegrass. 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: The Rick Reyes Trio 

● Date: Saturday, May 24th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 ● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com Artist Blurb:

Rick Reyes weaves stories of struggle, resilience, and hope into his music, blending traditional Puerto Rican Jibaro with Americana, rock, salsa, and global influences. His songs capture the tension between hardship and optimism, always reaching toward the possibility of a better future.” 

therickreyes.com 

Goodnight Moonshine ft. Molly of Red Molly Saturday June 14th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Goodnight Moonshine ft. Molly of Red Molly 

● Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 ● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

Goodnight Moonshine blends Molly Venter’s evocative songwriting with Eben Pariser’s adventurous guitar, creating folk music rich with jazz-like improvisation and depth. Their harmonies and undeniable chemistry make for a raw, intimate sound that resonates with honesty and connection. 

www.goodnightmoonshine.com 

Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen Saturday July 12th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen 

● Date: Saturday, July 12th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 ● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com

Artist Blurb: 

2025 International Acoustic Music Award Winner Robert Thomas has written songs for legends like Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, and the Dixie Chicks. As a seasoned staff writer, his diverse repertoire features sing-along melodies, clever lyrics, and captivating storytelling reminiscent of Mark Twain and Garrison Keillor. Joined by legendary session musicians Ray Legere and Jon Arsenault, Thomas delivers vibrant Folk/Americana with a touch of Bluegrass, enchanting audiences across North America and Europe. As Rodney Crowell puts it, “These boys know what they’re doing.” 

www.robertthomasandthesessionmen.com 

Amy Speace Saturday August 16th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Amy Speace 

● Date: Saturday, August 16th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 ● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

“Hailed by Rolling Stone and Billboard, Amy Speace is a leading voice in contemporary folk and Americana, praised by legends like Judy Collins and Tom Paxton. With critically acclaimed albums, international tours, and award-winning songs, she crafts raw, poetic music that resonates deeply, solidifying her place as a true songwriter’s songwriter.” 

www.amyspeace.com 

Julian Taylor Saturday September 20th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Julian Taylor 

● Date: Saturday, September 20th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 

● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

“Award-winning Toronto singer-songwriter Julian Taylor has been a force in Canadian music for two decades, earning international acclaim with his soulful blend of Americana and Country. His breakout album The Ridge racked up millions of streams and multiple award nominations, solidifying his place as a powerful and celebrated voice in contemporary folk.” 

juliantaylormusic.ca 

Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly Saturday October 4th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: Laurie MacAllister of Red Molly 

● Date: Saturday, October 4th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM) 

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 

● Tickets: $25 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

“After two decades with the beloved Americana trio Red Molly, Laurie MacAllister launched her solo career in 2024 with a sold-out show at Club Passim. Now headlining her Solo Debut Tour in 2025, she brings her soulful voice and heartfelt storytelling to audiences across the Northeast.” 

www.lauriemacallister.net 

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (Unplugged) Saturday November 15th, 2025 

Event Details: 

● Musical Act: The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (Unplugged) 

● Date: Saturday, November 15th, 2025 

● Showtime: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

● Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St Phoenicia, NY 12464 

● Tickets: $28 | All Ages 

Tickets available at the door or in advance at www.phoeniciaplayhouse.com 

Artist Blurb: 

New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been coloring ‘outside the lines’ of the Americana genre with their fantastic stories and performances since forming 20 years ago in the Hudson Valley of New York. Their Woodstock-tinged psychedelia has a hint of southern rock, Celtic and British folk combined with solid songwriting - a slice of Americana pie that is irresistIble! 

slambovia.com

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

Internationally Renowned Mongolian Band Anda Union to Perform at Ashokan Center March 28 - Dynamic 9-Piece Band Known for its Music About Nature, Family and Mongolian Life

OLIVEBRIDGE – The Ashokan Center is delighted to announce that on Friday, March 28, Anda Union, the award-winning festival headliners from Inner Mongolia will be in concert at the The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge. This is the first appearance of the nine-piece band in Upstate New York since they were formed 25 years ago.

Band members describe themselves as “music gatherers” who play a variety of Mongolian songs and styles aimed at reinvigorating their culture at home and sharing it internationally. They make their own traditional clothes and bring humor and storytelling to concerts that include tunes that range from mournful to horse-galloping raucous.

"We are incredibly honored that Anda Union will be gracing our stage on their U.S. Tour,” says Ruth Ungar Merenda, Director of Community Events at The Ashokan Center. “We look forward to hearing the room fill with their electrifying and deeply rooted music." 

Tickets and Anda Union Resources:

Tickets and Concert Details: ashokancenter.org/product/anda-union-concert/

Anda Union Videos and Homepage: fliartists.com/artists/anda-union/

Documentary: Anda Union from the Steppes to the City: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xys97noS9Ls

What people are saying about Anda Union:

“This might seem hyperbolic, but Anda Union might have been … the most transformative musical experience I’ve ever had.” - Connect Savannah

“This friendly bunch of established musicians … were a hit with the crowd, who clapped for more throat-singing, horse-head fiddle playing, and music about what matters most: nature, horses, your beloved, family bonds, and heritage.” - Ethnomusicologist, Wesleyan University

Creative Strings Workshop the Same Weekend!

This same weekend Ashokan is hosting a weekend with Austin Scelzo designed to inspire violin, viola, cello, and bass players to get "off-the-page" and improvise. Great for performers, casual players, and music teachers! www.austinscelzo.com/creativestrings  

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

MUSINGS OF A LOCAL... By Iris Mead - TODAY’S FLYING AND LINES ENCOUNTERED

Plans have been made usually weeks ahead to get away to a place you’ve never been before or, in many cases, a place you often re-visit.  Either way, excitement begins to build as the day of departure starts to become real and you begin crossing off the remaining days in your head or on the calendar.  Then, you start to realize how much you have to do to get ready to leave; how big a suitcase, what kind of clothes to pack, and that really becomes problematic when you live in the North and are traveling to a Southern state.  Shoes!  That always seems to be a big problem, especially for women.  Is it a casual trip, a cruise where formal dress is still required on some cruises, or somewhere in between.  Can we pack enough shoes to match our outfits?  How easy it must be for men to pack.  A shaving kit, a pair of jeans, a couple of pairs of shorts, a couple of Tommy Bahama shirts, deck shoes and a pair of flip flops and they are ready to go and packed into a duffel bag.  Oh, if only it were that easy for women!

Arriving at the airport, the first LINE you encounter is at the desk of your airline to get your boarding pass and check your bags, paying the fee required.  Lately, the trend has been to pack as much as you can into a carry-on bag which can then go into the overhead bin IF there is still space when you get to your seat.  On “discount” airlines there is a fee for the carry-on bag (that was more than for checking your bag on the flight I just flew). My opinion on that strange charge is that carry-on bags create slower loading and more chaos in the aisles with passengers trying to find space in the overhead bins. 

The next LINE is the TSA security line. Depending on the airport, the line can be not long or, as I call it not bad, or really long, and as I call it, I’m going to miss my flight!  This depends on the size of the airport, how many flights are scheduled to leave within a close time frame and how many passengers have signed up and bought a TSA Pass to avoid the line.  On the last return trip I actually walked by the TSA check-in and there was NO ONE in the area!  

And then, the last LINE is waiting to board.  Seating is called by row after all the “special” passengers are called to board:  first, wheelchair passengers, then families with children, then anyone traveling with a disabled person, then credit card holders of that airline, then first-class passengers, and finally the economy section rows.  First called for those seats are passengers who have “upgraded” their seats – meaning paid extra to get a few inches more in the seat, and finally the steerage passengers, as I call them, who have to wait in LINE in the aisle while all the pre-boarded passengers who have been called before you can’t get to their seats because no one ahead can find their seat or are held up by overhead bin people looking for space.  I have always wondered why airlines do not start the seating process from the back of the plane rather than the front. Unless someone can explain why, this will always remain a bone of contention with me.

Now, ready for take-off and the excitement builds. And if all is in place, the plane will not be in a LINE waiting for take-off.  Finally, at your destination, one more LINE awaits as you wait to depart the plane.  And finally, you are at your destination, exhausted, disheveled and hungry and looking forward to a good time after one more wait to retrieve your baggage. Enjoy your trip!

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

The Overlook: Community Journalism for Six Catskills Towns

Noah Eckstein is The Overlook newspaper's editor-in-chief. I met up with him at an iconic office in Woodstock, NY. Tune in to hear more about that, and Noah's plans for this new community news outlet!

CATSKILLS REGION — Journalism faces unprecedented challenges, as evidenced by Northwestern University's study citing the closure of two newspapers per week in recent years. However, the Catskills just witnessed a defiant act against this trend with the launch of The Overlook, a non-profit weekly with editor-in-chief Noah Eckstein at the helm.

The Overlook covers six towns in the Catskills: Woodstock, Saugerties, Hunter, Hurley, Shandaken, and Olive. Founded by Scott Widmeyer and Jackie Kellachan, the initiative was born from a need to fill gaps in local coverage, with a focus on governance and investigatory reporting. With a robust board boasting journalism professionals and local leaders, The Overlook is poised to deliver crucial information to these communities. 

Operating as a nonprofit offers unique advantages. It leverages resources from the Institute for Nonprofit News and opens doors to grant-based funding. This structure not only ensures The Overlook remains free of paywalls but also supports a resilient model that can withstand the shifting dynamics of news consumption, particularly as younger generations' preferences evolve.

In today's digital age, younger audiences are bombarded with information, often opting for headlines over subscriptions. The Overlook recognizes this and strives to make its content accessible and appealing to this demographic, including involving them in the news creation process.

As The Overlook finds its legs, the focus remains on cultivating a devoted team and distributing coverage throughout the towns in its mission statement. Noah told me that by tapping into local historical societies, involving high school correspondents, and calling upon retired journalists for contributions, the news outlet seeks to build a comprehensive narrative that honors both past and present.

For a free subscription to The Overlook, just head over to: http://theoverlooknews.com) or hear the podcast from Silver Hollow Audio here: https://www.kaatscast.com/the-overlook-community-journalism-for-6-catskills-towns/.

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD

A Conversation About: Timing

By Jean Thomas

I had a talk with my mail carrier the other day. She and I often beep and wave as she goes about her appointed rounds. We steal a few minutes whenever she has to deliver a package too big for the mailbox. She hands over the item and we talk about the gardens we tend. And what chat with a neighbor is complete without weather and seasonal observations? She’s nearing her retirement and has seen her route grow to several hundred patrons and a daily circuit of seventy five miles. At seventy five miles a day, over the same terrain, over a couple of decades, she has developed a fine-tuned appreciation for the passage of the seasons. My own, more stationary, observations during the same decades, mesh with hers. Ours is a relationship of a rare purity. Our paths converge over delivery of stuff I want, and who doesn’t think well of the bearer of stuff they want?  We have swapped plants and veggies over the years. And sometimes personal stuff seeps into the conversation. Never politics or gossip… we’re too busy for that. Out longest conversations last for minutes, not hours. No leisurely chat, although an occasional baked good transaction happens.

So what was the latest conversation about? It’s March… Lions in and lambs out and ice storms with trucks sliding past mailboxes or dogs learning to skate. And timing. I reminisced about the St. Paddy’s Day they were golfing in shirtsleeves at the course next door. She remembered a cold snap that froze daffodils, usually impervious at this time of year.  We compared notes on the seasonal events we were seeing. I told her about seeing flowers on a maple by the road, but had to admit it was only by squinting at a low branch and the “flowers” were only at the smallest of bud stages. We smiled and enjoyed the talk of the coming blush of red on the maples and the golden gleam of the willows against the sky. We also agreed it couldn’t be soon enough for us. (Neither of us is afraid of a cliché.)  She has a section of her route that’s a little lower elevation than the rest, where she keeps a sharp eye out for signs of spring. She’s seen some pussy willows, and swears that she saw buds on some Forsythia. I choose to believe her.

As we stood chatting, I with my precious carton of new books, we must have presented a comical sight. The dog lay on the warmest spot of gravel he could find, resting after greeting her, his BFF for the past decade.  She in her USPS uniform and I in my jammies and slippers, we stood side by side, never making eye contact. We were too busy scanning the lawn and driveway flowerbeds for greenery. From time to time one of us would point and the other nod. She lives a tad up the mountain from me, so my spring happens a bit earlier than hers and I’m happy to share. 

Time for her to go. Dog says goodbye, she cranks her elderly vehicle into reluctant motion, and continues on her day. Our discussion was done for now. We agreed about our weariness with winter, and looked forward. I don’t know about her, but her quick stop with some new books was perfect timing.                                

 

Remember to Subscribe!

Subscription Options

One Year $50.00 USD Six Months $30.00 USD One Year with Insider Newsletter $75.00 USD