Five communities on both sides of the Hudson River will come together through music on Sept. 12, when Historic Hudson River Towns presents its annual Music Across the Hudson event.
Free concerts will take place throughout the day in Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry, Ossining, Peekskill and Nyack, featuring music ranging from jazz and blues to Latin, rock and Americana. A sixth performance will take place aboard a sunset cruise departing from Peekskill, with tickets available for $35.
For Historic Hudson River Towns, the event is about more than the music. It is also an opportunity to encourage residents and visitors to experience the waterfronts connecting the region’s river communities.
“Many of our member communities have been expanding access to the Hudson River in recent years, improving riverwalks, renovating piers, and improving waterfront parks,” said Burns Patterson, executive director of Historic Hudson River Towns. “We wanted to find an engaging way to remind residents and visitors alike of the amazing assets these communities offer.”
The event traces its roots back five years to “Jazz on the Bridge,” a program created to highlight the then-new walking and biking path across the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Last year, the concept expanded into multiple communities and became Music Across the Hudson.
“We feel staging this event across multiple venues on a single day really highlights the amazing connection to the Hudson River that our River Town communities share,” Patterson said.
This year’s event adds Dobbs Ferry, Yonkers and Nyack as first-time Music Across the Hudson locations. Organizers have also incorporated indoor options in case of rain, including Yonkers Brewing Company and The Angel Nyack.
Keeping the majority of the day’s programming free was an intentional part of the event.
“Access to the Hudson should be free for everyone, so we wanted these concerts to be free, as well, since part of the goal is reinforcing great locations to get down to the river’s edge,” Patterson said.
In Ossining, the Up the River Blues Festival will bring a full afternoon and evening of performances to Louis Engel Waterfront Park, beginning at noon. The location is steps from the NY Waterway ferry between Ossining and Haverstraw, which now offers weekend service.
Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park will host The Incumbents and Funk & Disorderly from 3 to 6 p.m., while Yonkers Brewing Company will feature Adriano y La Fuego Band from 4 to 6 p.m.
Across the river, Nyack Memorial Park will host Herve Alexandre at 4 p.m., followed by Mark Morganelli & The Jazz Forum All-Stars from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Peekskill will offer two ways to experience the music. The Barn Vultures will perform a free Americana concert at Riverfront Green from 5 to 6:30 p.m. From there, attendees can take the celebration onto the Hudson aboard the Commander for a sunset cruise featuring ska trio Brother Jerome. The cruise departs at 6:30 p.m. and costs $35 per person.
Organizers hope bringing people to these waterfront venues also encourages them to spend time in the surrounding communities.
“When you bring visitors to the waterfront, they’re likely to explore a community’s downtown, so there’s an economic development component,” Patterson said. “For local residents, outdoor concerts in September also offer a chance to keep the spirit of summer going just a little longer.”
Historic Hudson River Towns is a nonprofit organization made up of 16 municipalities in Westchester and Rockland counties. Its work focuses on promoting the river towns, supporting economic development and encouraging greater access to and stewardship of the Hudson River.
Music Across the Hudson has now become a signature event for the organization, and Patterson said planning is already underway for 2027.
“We would love for people to enjoy great music, and at the same time, come away with a renewed appreciation for the Hudson River and its extraordinary River Towns,” Patterson said.
Music Across the Hudson — Sept. 12
- Yonkers Brewing Company, Yonkers: Adriano y La Fuego Band, 4–6 p.m.
- Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park: The Incumbents, 3–4:15 p.m.; Funk & Disorderly, 4:30–6 p.m.
- Louis Engel Waterfront Park, Ossining: Up the River Blues Festival beginning at noon, featuring Big Frank & The Healers, Jelly Bean Jake & The Coconut Heads, The 3B’s, Felix Cabrera and Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones.
- Riverfront Green, Peekskill: The Barn Vultures, 5–6:30 p.m. The Commander sunset cruise with Brother Jerome departs at 6:30 p.m. Cruise tickets are $35.
- Nyack Memorial Park: Herve Alexandre, 4–4:45 p.m.; Mark Morganelli & The Jazz Forum All-Stars, 5–6:30 p.m.
All land-based Music Across the Hudson concerts are free. The event is held rain or shine.
- hudsonriver.com/hhrt/music-across-the-hudson
