2006 PERFORMANCES

COLUMBIA COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE ARTS' 12th ANNUAL HUDSON ARTSWALK has grown into a 10 day long multi-event of art and entertainment with the full support of the City of Hudson, the Department of Public Works, the Hudson Trolley, Columbia Hudson Partnership, several churches, art organizations, schools, private building owners and over 50 retail stores, restaurants and businesses in Hudson. Each year Artswalk changes with the new ideas and personalities of the various coordinators and artists. One of this years added events is a full day of outdoor performances by local and regional groups and bands. 

Performances will take place on SATURDAY OCTOBER 7TH FROM NOON TO 8PM beneath a tent located on 5th AND WARREN STREET in HUDSON, NEW YORK. Performers include, BONGO ROOTS, DENISE JORDAN FINLEY , THE LUXURY FLATS, CITIZEN BAND, TWO OF US PRODUCTIONS, EVOLUTION REVOULTION AND MORE! For directions and details on performances please call 518.671.6213 or visit www.artscolumbia.org

 The mission of Columbia County Council on the Arts is to produce programs that advance the arts and engage our county's residents and visitors; provide services that support our county's cultural organizations', artists' and residents' participation in the arts; and build collaborative partnerships within the county and beyond. 

Sponsors of ArtsWalk 2006 include Columbia County Tourism, the City of Hudson, the Columbia Hudson Partnership, KeyBank, the David G. Whitcomb Foundation, Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation, Ed Herrington Inc., the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and others

DENISE JORDAN FINLEY AND DANIEL PAGDON 
1:15 – 2:00 pm
DENISE JORDAN FINLEY is a singer/songwriter who has grown before audiences since she began playing her music as a child of the Folk Revival of the sixties, creating her own guitar style which stands unequaled today. Her approach to lyrics is poetic yet accessible, drawing on the universal experiences of life, love and laughter. A life-long native of the Hudson Valley in New York, she brings the details of the small towns of her upbringing to life in her songs. These towns have been a regular part of her performing itinerary through the years, along with a touring outreach that spans the coats of the U.S. and Europe . For more information please visit www.DeniseJordanFinley.com 

CITIZEN BAND  2:30 – 3:15 pm
CITIZEN BAND is Chris Neumann, Rob Williams and Gabe Schaftlein from the underground punk outfit, 2.5 Children Inc. joined by Josh Miesmer of the Hudson Valley favorite Two Gun Man. A satisfying blend of roots rock, protest music and punk Citizen Band addresses current issues both social and political

LUXURY FLATS   3:45 - 4:30 pm
THE LUXURY FLATS are a rock band out of Hudson, NY . The band is composed of Joe V, Damara, Joe Terry, and Mikey. They all live at Spook Rock; an 18 century house east of Hudson where together they eat, sleep, record and play croquet. They were named Metrolands best band of 2006. Metroland writer John Brodeur describes the band as "Raw, intense, full of promise, devoid of pretense, Monkeyfunk (a track off their second demo), is a swirl of heavy drums,
snarling male vocals, piano and electric guitar; the next, Bad Wizard in a Sweatsuit, has an organic, glam-rock swagger. Tempos rush and recede, songs take unexpected left exits into riff-rock territory, endings blur into noise collage." For more information visit www.TheLuxuryFlats.com

TWO OF US PRODUCTIONS  5:00 – 5:45 pm
TWO OF US PRODUCTIONS proudly presents, Broadway Favorites, selections from Cabaret , Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate, Chicago, and The Pajama Game. Located on Rt. 7 in Copake New York, The Two Of Us Productions is a community theater group dedicated to bringing high-quality, full-scale productions to the local stage. Past productions include Arthur Miller's Broken Glass, Kander & Ebb's Cabaret, Neil Simon's They're Playing Our Song, a full scale production of Ragtime, The Musical, Agnes Of God, John Pielmeir's searing drama of faith and fact, a full-orchestra production of Man Of La Mancha, and most recently a well received production of Chicago , The Musical. For more information please visit www.TheTwoOfUsProductions.com.

BONGO ROOTS  6:15 – 6:45 pm
The plight of the Haitian people is no secret, and Harry Ayizan is no stranger to the struggles or to the strength of his people. Ayizan has always been a strong lyrical and rhythmic voice, urging his people to educate themselves, open their eyes and insist on justice. He was dubbed Ayizan by fellow musicians in his native Port au Prince, Haiti . Ayizan is the name given to the woman responsible for the earth's secrets in the Voodoo cultural tradition. This name also symbolizes the palm tree and the Haitian flag Ayizan has been playing drums for as long as he can remember (with time out for playing professional soccer). 

In the 1970's he played with a kanaval group called Lobodja in the streets of Port au Prinnce. In 1979 he and his brother Azouke began exploring the far reaches of their country and its deep, varied musical and cultural traditions. The brothers were involved in the formation of the groups Foula and Sanba Yo. The music they played was a fusion of traditional music, jazz and folk/rock, pioneering Rasin (Roots) Music. Since leaving Haiti, they have continued their work in the US, primarily in New York. They created a group called Vodoule with which they toured from the Louisiana Music Festival to New York and as an opening band for the Rolling Stones in Washington, D.C. 

BONGO ROOTS evolved as their next vehicle of expression. The music of BONGO ROOTS preserved the rich and hypnotic percussion music of Haiti , blending in soulful Pan-African funk. With the addition of modern instruments, BONGO ROOTS brought the Voodoo culture to the stage in an electrifying and danceable performance. Dance you will in this rhythmic and lyrical whirlpool of pulsing Haitian roots music, contemporary rock and the poetry of troubadours.
 

EVOLUTION REVOLUTION  7:15 – 8:00 pm
Get hip to the new ancient sounds of the future with the mythological animistic rock of EVOLUTION REVOLUTION. The band not only sings Jason Martin's quirky fauna-friendly anthems, but the floating membership of musicians also regularly performs in animal costumes, too. And they're at home in such high-art venues as MASS MoCA and the Albany Institute of History & Art, as well as such rock 'n' roll spots as Valentine's and Positively Fourth Street. Evolution Revolution delivers a sexy funky reply to current trends of anemic music and bloody politics. For more information visit www.myspace.com/evolutionrevolution

To see photos from the 2006 performances click here 

FOR HIGH-RES IMAGES CLICK HERE