A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Hudson, N.Y., region, including Americana; color and contrast in abstract art; bluegrass; choral music; and a whole lot more.
Edward Avedisian, Untitled 033, c. 1980 68 x 84 inches, acrylic on canvas
NEW CARRIE HADDAD EXHIBIT EXPLORES ABSTRACT TENSIONS in PAINTING
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Interlock, an exhibit that explores the tensions of color and contrast in minimal abstraction, featuring contemporary paintings by artists Donise English, Paul Katz, and Ralph Stout, as well as paintings on canvas and paper from the estates of Edward Avedisian and Stephen Brophy, will be on view at Carrie Haddad Gallery from Wednesday, March 22, through Sunday, April 30. A reception for the artists takes place on Saturday, March 25, from 5 to 7pm.
Langhorne Slim (photo Brian Lowe)
LANGHORNE SLIM BRINGS AMERICANA to HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Alt-country singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim brings his poignant, confessional lyrics and his melodic style to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, March 26, at 8pm. Caroline Spence, a country-based singer-songwriter from Virginia, warms up the crowd for Slim.
Johannes Sebastian Bach
CHAMBER CHOIR to PERFORM BACH, BRAHMS, OTHERS at ST. JAMES PLACE
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) — The Cantilena Chamber Choir will showcase the music of Bach, Brahms, and other composers at Saint James Place on Sunday, March 26, at 3pm. The concert will highlight the more famous works by these two composers, comparing Bach’s compositional technique and how it influenced the work of Brahms 100 years later. This is the inaugural choral concert at the newly renovated performance venue.
On the program will be Bach’s Cantata #4 Christ Lag in Todesbanden and the double choir motet Ich lasse dich nicht and their corresponding works the Brahms motets O Heiland Reiss die Himmel auf and his Opus 29 no 1 and 2 Est ist das Heil uns Kommen her.
Also on the program is the motet Ay Que Dolor by Juan Cererols that predates the opening of the Bach St. Matthew Passion yet is strikingly similar. Rarely heard works of composers Robert Pearsall and 16th century Portuguese composer Manuel Cardosa will be included.
Steep Canyon Rangers
STEEP CANYON RANGERS BRING MODERN BLUEGRASS to MAHAIWE
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) — Grammy Award-winning outfit Steep Canyon Rangers brings its distinctive brand of modern bluegrass to the Mahaiwe on Sunday, March 26 at 7pm. Joining them will be special guest banjoist Noam Pikelny
Perhaps best known as Steve Martin’s backup band, the Steep Canyon Rangers on their own are at the top of the contemporary bluegrass heap, headlining festivals and winning Grammy Awards for their own albums.
Mavis Staples
MAVIS STAPLES to ROCK MASS MoCA
(NORTH ADAMS, N.Y.) – Mavis Staples, a scion of America’s first family of socially conscious soul-gospel music and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, brings her unique blend of gospel, soul, folk, pop, R&B, blues, and rock to the Hunter Center at MASS MoCA on Saturday, March 25, at 8pm.
Chloe Zerwick, ‘My Life’
CHLOE ZERWICK CONJURES the SURREAL in EXHIBITION at HUDSON OPERA HOUSE
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – “Inside the Box,” a solo exhibition of sculptural work by Hudson-based artist Chloe Zerwick, is on view at the Hudson Opera House until Sunday, March 26. The artist transforms everyday objects into enigmatic, three-dimensional statements framed inside boxes.