Thursday Night Music Circle At ESRM

This is just to remind all of you who are looking for a place to play music that there is an ongoing circle right in the neighborhood. Every Thursday night beginning at 7pm musicians of all skill levels meet at the Empire State Railway Museum on Lower High Street for some acoustic fun. WCA members Dakin Morehouse and Harry Jameson are the leaders of the group. Here is a recent email I received from Dakin.

... At the Historic Phoenicia RR Station - 7:00 Thursday, as usual.
Looking forward to pickin' an singing with you.
Let's hear that old song you just learned, or the new one you just wrote.
Friendly ears to try it out on.

____

| iiiiiiii \
| llllllllll \
| llllllllllll \
| llll ( ) lll \
| lllllllllllllll \
| { *.*.*.*.*} | Dakin & Harry
| llIIIlllllllllllllll |

Directions - #70 Lower High St, Phoenicia, NY
Heading West on Rt 28 just past the Phoenicia diner it will be the first road on your right.
Going East on Rt 28 pass the Eagle and take the second entrance to Phoenicia but turn Right just before the RR tracks.
And from in Phoenicia, turn South onto Bridge St, over the Esopus then turn Left immediately after the tracks.

Heather Pierson At The ESRM

For those of you who have not gone to the Flying Cat Music Series at the Empire State Railway Museum I highly recommend it. It is a fantastic way to listen to great music in a small intimate setting and the acoustics of the room are fabulous! So check out one of their shows when you have the chance. 

Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio in Concert

for
Flying Cat Music

Saturday, August 8

7:30 p.m. (sharp), doors at 7:00

Empire State Railway Museum

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY  12464

Admission price $15 or $13 with

reservation to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com

For information email as above

or call 845-688-9453

Link to artist's website
http://www.heatherpierson.com/

On Saturday, August 8, Flying Cat Music presents the dynamic Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio in Phoenicia at the Empire State Railway Museum located at 70 Lower High Street. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 prompt. Admission is $15 or $13 with RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com or by calling 845-688-9453.

The magic in the music of Heather Pierson is impervious to genrefication. In one three month span she was lauded in the press as both a neoclassical pianist and as the leader of a jazz quartet, but look up Heather Pierson on Sonic Bids and she's found under “Solo” “Folk” and “Acoustic.” Lone Star Magazine views Pierson as a veritable double bill, saying, “Heather is like two great acts in one, sliding from sweet acoustic Appalachian old-timey vibe with Patty Griffinesque lyrics to brassy New Orleans blues piano with a bone thrown to Bessie Smith." Heather's voice is pure and sometimes even sweet, but it also carries great power. It's a voice that could mesmerize a dragon or a dove.  A review in MainlyPiano.com captures her dynamic range, noting "Pierson’s voice is strong yet vulnerable, conveying tremendous emotional depth and passion”.

Matt Harlan At The ESRM

Matt Harlan 

in Concert

for
Flying Cat Music

Saturday, July 18

7:30 p.m. (sharp), doors at 7:00

Empire State Railway Museum

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY  12464

Admission price $12 or $10 with

reservations to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com

For information email as above

or call 845-688-9453

Link to artist's website
http://mattharlan.com/

On Saturday, July 18, Flying Cat Music brings award winning singer-songwriter Matt Harlan to Phoenicia to perform at the Empire State Railway Museum located at 70 Lower High Street. The doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the show beginning at 7:30 prompt. Admission is $12 or $10 with RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com or by calling 845-688-9453.

Winning Singer-Songwriter of the year in 2013 at the 11th Annual Texas Music Awards and taking home the prize for Americana Song of the Year in the Billboard International Song Contest in 2008 are just two of the many honors already bestowed on Houston based musician Matt Harlan in his relatively short career. His July concert for Flying Cat Music marks Matt's return from a European tour where his Texas tinged Folk Roots sound has earned him a loyal following. Each of the three CDs that Matt Harlan has released to date hit the #1 spot on the Euro Americana Chart, an impressive accomplishment considering that Americana music is in many ways more popular in Europe than it is here at home. 

Mini-Railroad Rides

For those looking for something really fun to do with young children there are mini-railroad rides at the Empire State Railway Museum on Lower High Street. Here is a video featuring WCA member Dakin Morehouse as the engineer on the ride. It looks like great fun to me! Check it out this coming weekend!

ESRM Needs Volunteers

WCA members Dakin and Doris Morehouse, who spearhead the efforts to preserve the Empire State Railway Museum (Dakin is President), sent me a message to post here on the blog regarding volunteers. If any of you have some time and want to be involved please contact Doris. Here is what she had to say:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! the Empire State Railway Museum needs docents on Lower High Street, in Phoenicia. The museum is open weekends and holidays from 11 to 4, beginning Memorial Day weekend. We are casual and you would learn quickly about the history of the station and the area and photos on the walls etc. I am there and need a second person to help at the gift shop and/or just talk with the visitors. 

  You are welcome to volunteer as few or as many days as you can. The Mini train will be running mid day on the property and the CMRR train ride is just a mile east on #28.

 Please consider donating some time with us. No experience necessary; only interest in helping preserve our beautiful station and the history of our area. 

  Call me and we can talk more about it.

Doris

688-5773 (home)

688-7501 (museum)

http://www.esrm.com

Tom Pacheco At ESRM

Flying Cat Music Presents

An Evening with Tom Pacheco

Sunday, September 2

7:30 p.m. (sharp), door at 7:00

Empire State Railway Museum

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464

“one of the genuine troubadours of our time”

Maverick Magazine

"quintessentially American songwriter"

Dirty Linen Magazine

"If anyone deserves to be mentioned in the same hushed tones of reverence as John Prine,

Townes Van Zandt, Tom Russell, Guy Clarke and Steve Earle, it is he."

Folk Roots Magazine

Admission is $15 or $13 w/RSVP

to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com

For information email as above

or call 845-688-9453

Link to artist's website:

http://www.tompacheco.com/

Flying Cat Music proudly presents Tom Pacheco for a concert at the Empire State Railway Museum on Sunday, September 2. The show begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. with the door opening at 7:00. Admission is $15 at the door or $13 with RSVP toflyingcatmusic@gmail.comor by calling 845-688-9453. The Museum is located at 70 Lower High Street in Phoenicia, New York.

ESRM - Free Community Christmas Party

Photo Ⓒ Dan Howard

I was speaking with WCA member and ESRM President Dakin Morehouse and he asked me to remind you all that the Empire State Railway Museum Christmas Party will be this Sunday December 11th. The party will take place from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The museum is in the Phoenicia Railroad Station located on Lower High Street.

Here is what Dakin had to say:

"Well, Irene won't keep Santa and Mrs. Claus from visiting the Empire State Railway Museum this Sunday, the 11th of December.

The model trains will be running and munchies will be out for all you kiddies (of any age) around 12 noon until 4 with Catskill Mt. RR's Christmas Special Train operating out of the Mt. Tremper Station (thanks to Irene) at 1, 2, 3 and 4:00.

But Santa will be handing out free tickets to the young 'uns (and their guests) at the party back in the Historic Phoenicia Station on Lower High St. (Woodland Valley Road turns into High St. which then becomes Lower High St. at Bridge St.)
So come on down the valley and join us in celebrating the spirit of the Season - RR style.

Santa will also be riding the equally festive Christmas Train in Kingston departing from Westbrook Lane in the Kingston Plaza at 1, 2, 3, and 4:00 every Saturday and Sunday up until Christmas Eve (when he will be very busy).

And also at the Historic Phoenicia RR Station on the following Saturday (Dec. 17) "Bells and Motley" will be performing their Christmas Presentation with Renaissance and Elizabethan music and instruments. Sondra and John Bromka will be closing out our 'Flying Cat Performances' for the year and are NOT one you'll want to miss.

Yo Ho Ho

- Dakin

So to recap the important stuff:

Party is FREE to All (Donation Welcome)
Model Train, Exhibits, Visit with Santa, Christmas Treats!!
Free Train Rides on the Catskill Mountain Railroad out of Mount Tremper on Rt 28 with a Special Santa Ticket available at the Museum!!
Train times 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm.
Live Christmas Music Onboard!

Since this party is for the whole community here are the directions from places beyond the valley!

- Traveling on Rt 28 west from Kingston, take the first right after the Phoenicia Diner (look for small brown sign on the right saying "Railway Museum"). That will be Lower High Street. Look for the station entrance on your right.

- Traveling on Rt 28 east from the eagle entrance to Phoenicia, make your next left at the Bridge Street entrance to Phoenicia. Follow the road down to Lower High Street. Make a right. Proceed down High Street museum entrance will be on your left.

___________________________


Here is some more information about the Kingston Holiday Train from the CMRR.


THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN RAILROAD’S HOLIDAY TRAIN

ALL ABOARD the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s 2011 Winter Holiday Train! With their twenty-eighth year of operating trains in Ulster County coming to a close, the Catskill Mountain Railroad (CMRR) is proud to announce the continuation of Holiday Train service in Kingston , New York. The CMRR, having reestablished passenger service in Kingston for the first time since 1954, has been busy working on the railroad in 2011 to provide you with a more enjoyable ride.

Holiday Train service with Santa Claus on board will be on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm hourly starting December 3rd through December 18th. Come ride with us as Santa spreads cheer to all the good little children of Kingston ! Be sure to bring your camera! The Holiday Train will also run Monday 12/26/11, and on January 1st and 2nd. Take a special train ride to celebrate the holidays and usher in the New Year. There will be no train service on December 24th , 25th and 31st, . Tickets will be available at the CMRR station, located in the Kingston Plaza ball field parking lot near the Hannaford Supermarket - Adult fares are $6.00, Children (ages 2-11) ride for $4.00, and children under 2 years-old ride free with a paid adult fare.

Get into the holiday spirit and enjoy a one-hour excursion through the historic City of Kingston ! The Holiday Train will depart from Westbrook Lane for a three-mile round trip; heading West across Fair Street, Washington Avenue, to the old C9 Bridge, and then back again. Trains consist of open-air seating as well as limited space inside our refurbished caboose. Please dress appropriately and make sure to bundle up!

Have a toy train set-up under your Christmas tree? Well why not bring the kids out to experience the real thing. Get ready for the holidays with a visit from Santa Claus and a train ride on the Catskill Mountain Railroad’s decorated Winter Holiday Train.

For more information e-mail info@catskillmtrailroad.com or visit our website at www.catskillmtrailroad.com

Lutenist Carver Blanchard At ESRM

WCA member and ESRM President Dakin Morehouse sent me this message to announce the benefit concert this coming Saturday at the Railway Museum. Check it out. I think it will be great!!

- LUTENIST -
CARVER BLANCHARD
~ ~ ~
In Concert at the Phoenicia RR Station
October 17 at 7:30

In the 400 year old Renaissance Lute playing tradition
Carver adapts 19th century music ranging from the
Rousing to the Sentimental in his repertoire
At this benefit for the Empire State Railway Museum.
Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 - $5.00 donation

70 Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY

Carver was Lutenist for the Smithsonian Institute, teaches at Wesleyan University and is director of the Fernwood Center for Performing Arts in Elka Park, NY

Directions to the Phoenicia RR Station .. (Empire State Railway Museum)

Driving West on Rt 28 - Take the First Right (1/4 mile) after the Phoenicia Diner (on your left) This is Lower High St and the Phoenicia RR Station is the first building on your Right.

From Main St. in Phoenicia - Turn South (toward the river) on Bridge St. Cross the bridge AND the RR track turning immediately Left onto Lower High St. The Phoenicia RR Station is the 3rd building on your Left.

Hope Machine at the ESRM

Hope Machine in Concert
at the Phoenicia Railway Museum
Sunday, October 11, 7:30 pm
$10 donation requested
RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com
or $12 at the door
Empire State Railway Museum, Lower High Street, Phoenicia, NY 12464

Contact: 845-688-9453 or flyingcatmusic@gmail.com

Flying Cat Music proudly presents the dynamic Hudson Valley performance and recording artists Hope Machine at the Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenicia on Sunday, October 11, at 7:30 pm. Hope Machine's name derives from a Woody Guthrie lyric, "a human being is, anyway, just a hoping machine," and their concerts meld intense contemporary folk music with traditional roots fire. Although most of the material performed is original, it is interwoven with classic Woody Guthrie revivals as piercing in their delivery now as the day Woody wrote them. The sum effect is a profoundly moving and invariably inspiring experience, leavened by ample measures of sincerity, wit, and audience exuberance.

Fred Gillen Jr. (of Gillen & Turk) and Steve Kirkman, two superb Hudson Valley singer songwriters who also sing and record outside of the group, form the core of Hope Machine. The band has an elastic roster with the ghost of Woody Guthrie sometimes listed as a performing member. On October 11, Hope Machine will feature an all star cast with Fred and Steve joined by Eric Puente on drums and special guest Abbie Gardner, of Red Molly, on lap guitar and dobro. Playing collectively, individually, or in other bands, these creative spirits have released nearly two dozen CD's. To fully appreciate the depth and range of talent that Hope Machine will bring to Phoenicia on October 11, visit the personal web sites of each of these musicians - be prepared to be impressed.

The Empire State Railway Museum is on Lower High Street. On Route 28 about one-quarter mile east of Phoenicia, turn at the brown "Railway Museum" sign. A donation of $10 will be requested from those who RSVP to flyingcatmusic@gmail.com and $12 from those who do not.

The Flying Cat Music Railway Museum Concerts present nationally and regionally acclaimed musicians in an exquisite and intimate acoustic setting.

The Sidetrackers at the ESRM - July 19th

Dakin Morehouse (WCA member and (President of the ESRM0 sent me this announcement.

“Songs and Stories of the Great Catskill Moutain Railroads - The Sidetrackers”

Sunday
3-5pm July 19, 2009
Empire State Railway Museum
Phoenicia, NY

Merging their fascination with railroading with American folk music, on July 19 from 3-5 pm, the duo band “The Sidetrackers” will relive the days when the Catskills railroad was alive with hobos, heroes and villains. Performing at the Empire State Railroad Museum in Phoenicia, NY, songs and stories will include the history of the region where locomotives from the Ulster & Delaware, Catskill Mountain and other railroad companies passed through the region.

Both performers have a long history performing regional folk music. Ira McIntosh’s mother is a folklorist-ethnomusicologist and Jim’s great-grandfather was a fireman on the U&D Railroad. Together they play a variety of instruments including guitar, mandolin, harmonica and bass.

The event will be on July 19th from 3-5pm at the Empire State Railway Museum. located in Phoenicia, NY.

This concert is part of the 2009 Hudson River Quadracentennial Celebration organized by the Heritage Folk Music, Inc., a not-for-profit group that highlights regional and historic folk music, folklore and oral history of the Catskill Mountains and Hudson River Valley. Admission is $8.00. For more information, please contact Bob Lusk at (845) 594-4412.

(This concert is made possible in part by a grant from the New York State Quadracentennial Commission.)

Further information:

Ira McIntosh is from Bovina, a Catskill Mountain town that the railroad never quite reached (the roadbed was built but the rails haven’t come yet). He lives two-thirds of the way up Delaware County’s highest peak with his wife and two magnificent children. As the child of a folklorist/ethnomusicologist and a Catskill Mountain woodsman, Ira spent his early days simmering in the good old time heritage of the region. In 1954, Ira’s mother and grandfather rode on the last passenger train over the U&D rails from Stamford to Oneonta. (845) 676-4727

Jim Donnelly was born in Kingston, New York where he’s been crazy about trains since childhood. Mischievous Jim is a published poet and an exciting performer of all sorts of music from Hudson River folk songs and traditional Irish tunes to rock and roll. Jim’s great-grandfather was a fireman on the U&D Railroad and later on the Wallkill Valley line. (845) 266-5734

Fifty-four years later, in December of 2008, “The Sidetrackers”, each with their youngest child, were among the first riders to enjoy service over a long-unused stretch of U&D trackage thanks to the people of the Catskill Mountain Railroad who work very hard to make that experience available to folks in our area.

Columbus Day Weekend Concert

Rick Altman and David Oliver

An Afternoon Of New Music For Vibes and Marimbas
Inspired by Jazz, Folk, Ska, Afro-Cuban
and many other World musics.
Saturday, October 11th, 1:00-3:30 PM
Empire state railway museum
Lower High St., Phoenicia NY
845 688-7501

Residents Volunteer

This is a photo of Doris Morehouse and Linda McDonald (both WV Residents) in period costume on the platform of The Empire State Railway Museum. They both donate huge amounts of time volunteering at the museum. If you haven't been there you should check it out. It is located on Lower High Street (does anyone else but me find that street name oxymoronic?) in Phoenicia. There is a free kids holiday train in December featuring Santa Claus. Fun for all and the price is right! I will keep you posted on time and date information when I get it.

Photo by Joyce Botchford