The inaugural Hudson River Music Festival will be bringing some of the top names in jam-band music to Croton Point Park on Saturday, June 14.
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The festival, whose producers include Capitol Theatre owner Peter Shapiro’s Dayglo Presents, fills the void left by the Clearwater Festival, started by Pete and Toshi Seeger. Through a blend of music, art, and activism, the festival strives to promote environmental stewardship, social justice, and community engagement while celebrating the river’s cultural and ecological importance.
Musical acts include Grahame Lesh & Friends featuring Rick Mitarotonda (Goose), Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band), Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes), Jen Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Lucius featuring Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith, Madison Cunningham, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Steve Earle and Friends and Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane).
“We are super honored to be continuing the magic that was created at Croton Point Park for many years,” Shapiro said. “Given the upheaval in the world, it feels good to have such a solid piece of history return again. We are going to do our very best to do something new and fresh, while also respecting the roots of how this new festival came to be.”
Festival producers include Harper House Music Foundation and Riverfest FPS.
Mitzi Elkes, Hal Cohen, and Roy Volpe, co-founders of RiverFest FPS (For Pete’s Sake) said they shared a vision to bring a festival back to Croton Point Park. “Pete Seeger taught us about the power of music to connect people, learn about the environment, and commit to work together for a sustainable planet – as important today as it was fifty years ago,” they stated.
Steve Sullens, founder of Harper House Music Foundation, called collaborating with Pete and Toshi Seeger’s friends in presenting the event alongside Dayglo “has been a labor of love. Our mission of supporting musicians, their music and their legacies is fully aligned with the ethos of this festival, both past and present. We are excited to gather on the Hudson River with so many like-minded folks.”
Festival highlights
- Eco-friendly commitment: In keeping with the Clearwater tradition, the festival is dedicated to sustainability, with a strong commitment to a zero waste future. Attendees will be encouraged to reduce their environmental impact and enjoy a greener, more responsible festival experience.
- Family-friendly activities including the Rock and Roll Playhouse, boat-building workshops, and the Arm of the Sea Puppet Show.
- Pete & Toshi’s Grove: A peaceful space dedicated to honoring the legacies of Pete and Toshi Seeger, this special area invites festival-goers to reflect, reconnect, and share in their vision for a better world through music and activism.
Tickets go on sale beginning Friday, April 25, with options for general admission and VIP. Visit hudsonrivermusicfestival.com to purchase tickets, view transportation options and more.
Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, known as the Clearwater Festival, began in 1978, an outgrowth of the folk music picnics started by the Seegers in 1966 in Garrison. The event grew to be one of the country’s oldest and largest annual music and environmental festivals. Its Zero Waste program inspired similar practices at festivals around the country.
Except for a pause due to financial and organizational changes in 2016, the event continued until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Beacon-based Hudson River Sloop Clearwater‘s education and environmental advocacy work continues.
