In addition to the regular show schedule, with sponsorship from Stewarts Shops, the Music Hall presents contra dances throughout the year. 

Click for schedule & details.

All are welcome to attend the Music Hall annual meeting and contribute your ideas and enthusiasm as we head forward into another year. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Hall-Newman Center followed by a covered dish supper at 6:30 (with a harpist accompaniment!)  and music from Stone Soup at 7:45. The meeting will wrap-up with a song circle following the Stone Soup performance, so bring your ears, voices and instruments to join in as you please!

Stone Soup presents signature arrangements of a wide-ranging collection of tunes, acoustic-style. These tunes are culled from a wonderful variety of sources—traditional American idioms like folk and Americana roots music, blues, and jazz standards; singer-songwriter material and back-in-the-day classics; world music, etc. Each is chosen for its special value (call it greatness), then interpreted with originality and performed with a trademark energy and depth. The result is unique, powerful, and excitingly diverse.

Founded by vocalist/guitarist Peter Kim-Fredell circa 1993, Stone Soup has repeatedly been featured at all the major acoustic music venues in the area (past and present), including the Heartland Concert Series, the Turtle Hill Music Festival, The Golden Link Concert Series, the Oswego Music Hall, and the Twelve Corners Coffeehouse.

Jonathan Coleman debuted on the Music Hall stage last spring during the Emerging Artists Showcase at the 2011 Season Finale. When he was done, the standing ovation was immediate!

Blending backgrounds in bluegrass, folk, old-time, jazz, blues, and psychedelic jam music, Boots n’ Shorts a deep repertoire of original music, classics, and tunes. They bring to the table a high energy and the raw yet refined musicality of America’s richest. Influences include Bill Monroe, Garcia Grisman, Woody Guthrie, Yonder Mountain String Band & Old Crow Medicine Show. What started out as just jamming out & playing with friends has now produced four original albums & many memorable live performances. Their most recent album, on the Airwaves, was nominated for a Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) for Best Americana Album of 2009.

“Their old-time string sound is fostered by a modern spirit of jamming and free-spirited vibe, and their original songs thrum with vitality.”
-Mark Bialczak, Syracuse Post-Standard

One of American folk music’s most prolific and profound singer/songwriters of the past three decades, Greg Brown has earned the respect from his peers and a far-flung, passionately-devoted fan-base via a burnished, intimate baritone, a seemingly effortless gift for swinging, organiz melody and—perhaps most of all—a humble, unvarnished poetic grace that can imbue even the most mundane, everyday human endeavors and emotions with quiet dignity, startling insight and gently twisted humor.

At a still youthful 61, Greg Brown certainly has little left to conquer in the music world, what with multiple Grammy nominations and an astonishingly deep songbook that’s been covered by dozens of artists (including Willie Nelson & Carlos Santana, Ani DeFranco, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Lucy Kaplansky, and The Nashville Bluegrass Band, to name a few).

The founder of exemplary indie folk label Red House Records (with more than 200 titles to date), Greg’s also been a tireless champion for numerous humanitarian causes, routinely making his time, talent and music available for charitable fundraisers.

Greg first debuted on the Music Hall stage in 1982. He epitomizes what the Music Hall strives to do— to find and help launch extraordinary talent until they are beyond our reach. It was a stretch, but we are happy to bring Greg back (and he is happy to be back!) during this our 35^th anniversary year.

Kick off woman’s history month in style! Best loved for her songs highlighting women’s accomplishments, Peggy Lynn’s song “Mary Brown, Abolitionist” was used as the cover piece on “Songs for Peace” magazine. As a singer that puts her soul into her voice. In 2004 Peggy co-authored the highly acclaimed book, “Breaking Trail: Remarkable Women of the Adirondacks.” And was honored by the Business and Professional Women’s Association as “Woman of the Year”

Dan Duggan, no stranger to the Music Hall, is known nationally for his wizardry on Hammered Dulcimer and flat picking Guitar, and is the recipient of the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship. His repertoire includes songs written with children which earned for him a “Parents Choice Approval Award. Dan’s dulcimer work can also be heard on Paul Simon’s Grammy nominated CD, “You’re the One” and the Paul Simon collection released in 2002. Dan and Peggy’s insight is coupled with dynamic song writing and instrumental virtuosity and together, the two have released over twenty recordings.

“The Voice of the Mountains”
-Maurice Kenny, Adirondack Poet

For the uninitiated, Tracy rose to acclaim as one half of Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer, one of the swiftest rising acts in acoustic music. They released 3 internationally acclaimed CDs featuring Carter’s “award-winning, postmodern, mythic Americana” song craft, toured with Joan Baez and earned a diverse and fiercely devoted following. A week before their 2002 fest, Dave suffered a fatal heart attack. Tracy foretold her musical future in a post on their website. “It was always my mission that the world hear and know the poetry, vision and mystical magic of David Carter.” Tracy released her first solo CD in 2005. It included 9 Carter songs and 1 traditional tune. It topped all folk charts for over a year. In 2006 Tracy released SEVEN IS THE NUMBER, the last full length Dave & Tracy CD. “Lost and Found” will be the name of the project she is putting together in her next release.

“Tracy Grammer is a brilliant artist and unique individual. Her voice is distinctive, as is her mastery over the instruments she plays.”
-Joan Baez

“Sumptuous sonics… hauntingly arresting music.”
-Vintage Guitar Magazine

Cliff Eberhardt and James Lee Stanley are wonderful singers and musicians with unique mastery of their instruments. “All Wood and Doors”, their latest CD, features twelve of their favorite Doors songs, with timelessness enhanced by the funk and elegance of new arrangements and re-interpretations.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, James Lee has been recording and performing since he was fourteen. He has been hailed as one of the few all time greats and undisputed geniuses among singer-songwriters. His remarkable ability as a vocalist and composer allows him to create truly great songs, each accompanied by his amazing guitar orchestrations. When you couple this with his outrageously hilarious repartee, you get one of the most entertaining concerts on the circuit. Learn more at  http://www.jamesleestanley.com.

Cliff Eberhardt knew by age seven that he was going to be a singer and songwriter. His family sang and played together throughout his childhood in Berwyn, PA, where he taught himself to play guitar. He cut his teeth in acoustic music listening to the likes of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, and Mississippi John Hurt. At the same time, he was listening to great pop songwriters like Cole Porter, the Gershwins, and Rodgers and Hart, contributing to his penchant for great melodies and clever lyrical twists. Learn more at http://www.cliffeberhardt.net.

- Alternate Root

Brooklyn-based Americana/Alt-Country band Yarn’s sound owes as much to Gram Parsons and Earl Scruggs as to Jerry Garcia and Exile On Main Street-era Rolling Stones. Following in a fine tradition that includes forward thinking roots bands like The Flying Burrito Brothers and New Riders of The Purple Sage, Yarn spins roots music idioms into a fresh sound that turns on hipsters and fans of country music alike, with technically impressive song-crafting and universal tales from the road of life.

 ”Much like its name, the band Yarn weaves country, rock, blues and more into a genre-defying blend that has captured the attention of fans and critics.” 
- Jenna Spinelle, Centre Daily News

Rex Fowler and Neal Shulman have spent a lifetime together making music as the folk/rock duo Aztec Two-Step. After more than 40 years together, Aztec Two-Step continues to impress audiences with intelligent songwriting, dazzling acoustic lead guitar, and inspiring harmonies. They are one of acoustic music’s most popular and enduring acts…Praised in major media outlets such as Rolling Stone, and having appeared on numerous TV and radio shows such as David Letterman, King Biscuit Flour Hour, and World Café Live, the duo was the subject of a 1999 documentary “No Hit Wonder” that aired on PBS.

 ”Some of the most endearing, beautiful music I’ve heard in a long time. They’ve solidified their reputation as unique, exquisite act.” 
-Performance Magazine

Kenny White is a relative newcomer to the world of the touring singer-songwriter, but the long road he’s taken to get to this point is evident in his soulful and witty material and his dazzling keyboards and guitar. White’s early years as a fixture in the New York studio scene led to work as a writer/musician for many films, including several of John Sayles’ productions. As White evolved into his current troubadour role, he was hailed by reviewers from the NY Times to the SF Chronicle for his thrilling and unique piano playing, “quickly gaining a reputation as a not-to-be-missed performer.” David Crosby describes him as “A true wordsmith and musician who reveals a fine sense of humor, as well. He has earned a place among my favorite singer/songwriters.”

White has released four CDs since 2001. His latest CD, Comfort in the Static on Wildflower Records, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim in the US and Europe. It features White as a deft storyteller, with vocals reminiscent of Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and early Randy Newman. Roz Larman, of FolkScene KPFK, called it “The most Grammy-worthy album I received this year.”

 “. . . Static is absolutely one of the year’s greatest albums”
-Megan O’Neill, Detroit Metro Times

4:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Now a regular and highly anticipated end to our show year! Five hours of music featuring an Emerging Artists Showcase, BBQ Pork or Vegetarian Dinner, BYO, and Sunset Reception on the deck with gourmet desserts (included). Dinner advance sale is $6; tickets available at Music Hall shows and at the riversend bookstore. Mark your calendars, this is a party you won’t want to miss!

Emerging Artists Showcase: Features local musicians. If interested in performing, call the Music Hall at 315-342-1733 and leave a message or email  oswegomusichall@yahoo.com.

About Seth Glier: Seth is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter/pianist swiftly making a name on the national music scene. He abandoned his studies at the Berklee School of Music after a year because he “decided I should be playing for people not for grades.” His 2009 debut on MPress Records, THE TROUBLE WITH PEOPLE, drew comparisons to a young Billy Joel, Elton John and Paul McCartney. Featured in The Boston Globe for his “100% Fan-Funded Tour,” Glier is already a seasoned troubadour playing 250 shows per year. Seth was raised on the music of Joni Mitchell, Martin Sexton and Jeff Buckley, but considers his brother to be his greatest influence. “My brother is autistic and non-verbal. I learned to communicate with words better once I realized how to communicate to someone without them.”

“If Seth isn’t destined for huge super stardom then no one is”
-Livingston Taylor

Save the date!

Artist TBD

Nationally touring folk artists from three major points on the map―Boston, New York & Chicago―Greg Greenway, Pat Wictor & Joe Jencks celebrate the amazing power of a dynamic new male trio.  Their harmonies, as much as their lyrics, tell what they are about, warm as a campfire, stirring as a gospel church, rousing as a call to arms.  Calling upon contemporary songwriting and informed by the deep roots of gospel, blues, and folk, the trio weaves a tapestry of harmony that is brilliantly fresh, yet familiar.  A folk music power trio takes flight:  Three rich voices blending seamlessly over a well-crafted foundation of guitar, slide guitar and piano.

John Gorka released his first album, I Know, in 1987 to popular and critical acclaim. He proceeded to record five albums over the next seven years, with his albums and his touring bringing new accolades for his craft. His material is championed by many, with more than a score of artists recording or performing his songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell. He has also shared tours with many notable artists, Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter among them. All this has brought his music to an ever-widening audience — energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression of everyday life, weaving his rich baritone voice and unique songcraft together in a way that can only be described as “Gorka.”

Save the date!

Artist TBD

Save the date!

Artist TBD

Save the date!

Artist TBD