A Front Row Seat of the Hudson
Music in the Air is a directory of free and affordable (under $20) outdoor cultural events taking place in the County between July and September. For a full list of these concerts, visit: artsw.org/musicintheair.
by Katherine Doherty
Hudson River Museum (HRM) welcomes back audiences for the tenth season of its annual Summer Amphitheater Series. This year, the series offers a variety of performances, including tango, jazz, classical, R&B and soul, as well as a magic show and a master falconer showing off birds of prey. These outdoor Yonkers events take place on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Museum’s amphitheater, which is located next to the museum in Trevor Park and overlooks the Hudson River, from July 8–August 19. The series opens with an evening of classical music by Yonkers Philharmonic.
Jeana Wunderlich, HRM’s Marketing and Communications Manager, explains that the series “presents [performers] who reflect the interests of [nearby] diverse communities.”
This diversity is evident in the summer’s lineup: Casplash delivers an interactive program that includes music from Trinidad and Tobago, reggae music from Jamaica, and old-school Motown and R&B hits from the U.S. (July 15); Cherish the Ladies brings to the stage traditional Irish tunes complete with step dancing (August 12); and the vigorous footwork and sculpture-like poses of the Indian Bharatanatyam tradition will be presented by Natyamudra Classical Indian Dance (August 19).
Lest anyone believe that these performances require guests to remain stiffly in their seats, Latin Grammy Award-winner Pedro Giraudo will lead the audience in a short Tango lesson, followed by a performance with the band on July 23.
Performers new to the amphitheater stage include 3D Rhythm of Life: Latin-Tropical Soul (July 22), Improv All Stars: A Night of Comedy (July 30) and Clifton Anderson: Been Down This Road Before (August 6).
Wunderlich adds that the community can experience “entertainment with a front-row seat to the majestic Palisades and the Hudson River, completely free of charge.” While she notes that the amphitheater can accommodate about 400 people, and “generally, everyone who would like to attend can get a seat,” she still suggests arriving early since performances are open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.
HRM will also offer a pay-what-you-wish admission on Friday evenings from July 15 to August 19. Visitors can see on-view exhibitions, attend a planetarium show, and occupy the outdoor courtyard before the night’s performance.
A version of this article first appeared in the July-August 2022 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
Other 2022 Music in the Air Lineups You May Enjoy:
- Westchester Roots: A Summer Celebration of Community and Culture: Westchester Roots is a cross-cultural series of free, outdoor events taking place throughout Westchester this summer and highlighting cultural traditions of local populations such as Jamaican, Ghanaian, Ecuadorian, Mexican, Irish and more.
- The Sounds of Summertime Return to New Rochelle: After two years of canceling and reducing the annual Summer Sounds concert series due to COVID-19, New Rochelle Council on the Arts is back with a full schedule, including 18 events, this time in two locations.
- Jazz River: This summer concert series presented by Jazz Forum Arts will send the sounds of jazz wafting over the Hudson River from five Westchester waterfront parks.
