Broad Old River 2_The Hudson River Sloop Singers

A story from Rik Palieri

2011-10-15T20:31:00.000-04:00

Rik's first concert with Pete in Hoboken, NJ

Clearwater is reinventing the Pumpkin Sail festival this year, Rik Palieri had the opportunity to be a part of it and he got to thinking about how he came down this road and shared this a story from Rik which links to another blog.

FL promo

2011-03-18T10:18:00.000-04:00

Free Screenings

Song Writer’s Notebook

CONTACT: Spittoon Studios – 845 744 5483 Vinnie Cerniglia

melhealy@yahoo.com

Back in November 2009, we were able to gather a whole batch of old Clearwater friends to do a concert together and do some interviews about the Sloop Clearwater and The Hudson River Sloop Singers. We were lucky that so many old friends came to join in the fun. Months later after lots of editing and with the combined energy of Koza Productions, Spittoon Studios & LCA TV - VCAM we put together a half hour video featuring Pete Seeger and friends.

The concert celebrates the release of the Broad Old River 2 CD. Four decades of sloop singers and family came together in Pete’s 90^th year at the Clearwater Beacon sloop club to sing the songs together again. The video tells how a group of people can come together and make a dream come to life. Screening will be followed by music. CDs will be available for purchase. $15 from each CD sold benefits maintenance and restoration on the sloops Woody Guthrie and Clearwater.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit, member- supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River. In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are conducted around the world today.

Song Writer’s Notebook TV series is archived in the American Folk Life collection of the Library of Congress.

Mel and Vinnie are Spittoon Studios. Vincent Cerniglia plays old school blues guitar. Maryellen Healy sings from the heart. Together they sail, fundraise, compose, organize, educate and archive for Clearwater spreading a message you can sing and dance to.

Remembering Tom Winslow

2010-11-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

Remembering Tom Winslow, a fine human.

Songriter's Notebook

2010-11-18T00:26:00.002-05:00

The much anticipated TV show from the concert last November is available as a link! That's a surprise treat.

www.lcatv.org/program/songwriters-notebook-1008

Half hour show

2010-11-07T16:43:00.002-05:00

Rik Palieri finished the half hour Song Writer's Notebook show. He'll let us know when it airs on Lake Champlain Public Access TV and we'll let you know.

We also made available to participants the concert footage. Jan Christensen had this to say about it:

Just got finished watching the DVD of the Sloop Singer concert. Wow.

"Warts and all" in your letter was a fair description -- "warts" there were, but the "all" was much, much bigger. We never were, never are, and most likely never will be a group with any stage polish whatsoever. What showed through once again, though, was the honesty we've always had, the sincerity in our music and our cause that's always been there. It kept us together, and kept folks coming to hear our songs and the messages behind them. This was an authentic Hudson River Sloop Singer concert that captured the essence of US; if it had been choreographed to gear-clicking perfection, that essence would have been lost.

Seeing the faces of old friends and hearing the songs again, I remember why I broke down and cried on Vinnie's shoulder after the concert was over. It was one of those epiphanies when you realize that all these years, all the people, all the songs, all the places (even the fish-head gigs!), everything, was all worth it. We've mattered. We've made a difference. We've helped Clearwater. We've helped the River. And in being a part of it, we've helped give meaning to each of our own lives.

Mel and Vinnie, thank you again for the time, effort, and love you put into bringing Broad Old River II back, and for the time, effort and craziness of putting the concert together. And Rik, thank you for your time, effort, and love in organizing the interviews and getting the concert recorded for posterity. You've given us all a legacy.

Broad Old River Trailer

2010-07-23T12:52:00.000-04:00

Great Hudson River Revival 2010 June 19 & 20

2010-06-13T19:44:00.003-04:00

Circle of Song tent is even closer to the river this year! Get your copies of Broad Old river 2 CD Sunday in the Clearwater Store.

Sunday morning Mel and Vinnie open there at 11:00 am. Come by with your instrument, voice or just your ears. We'll be leading river sing alongs.

Each day at Circle of Song there is an open round robin hootenanny song circle.

Saturday 1:15 - 2:30

Sunday 12:30 - 1:15

Sunday 5:30 - 6:30 the closing set at Circle of Song is a Hudson River Sloop Singer Reunion, Rick Nestler is host.

complete schedule at

http://www.clearwater.org/festival/schedules.html

festival home page

http://www.clearwater.org/festival/index.html

Spittoon Studios record deal with Top Five in FL

2010-05-01T15:47:00.004-04:00

The Broad Old River 2 CD is now available in a brick and mortar shop in Lake Worth FL.

Top Five Records on 10 South J Street, just off Lake Ave.

This winter they will also carry the vinyl Broad Old River.

If you're in the city (just south of West Palm) check out John's shop Wed-Sat noon to 6. He is buying/selling LPs, 45s and CDs.

The title of this post links to the City of Lake Worth.

Econosmith Photos

2010-05-01T15:39:00.003-04:00

Here's a link to a slideshow we put up of some of the pictures Econosmith took in November at the Broad Old River 2 event in Beacon.

LINK

Rik Palieri is back from his touring and back at work editing the footage. Keep you posted.

Answers to "The Question"

2009-12-17T19:05:00.002-05:00

Here's a link to the answers to "the question" sent to hundreds of sloop singers as we planned for November 7th. What did it mean to you to be a sloop singer, how did it affect your life?

30 sloop singers responded.

Here's two pictures from Econosmith one from the interviews at the sloop club the other from the rehearsal. There's still a lot of work going on to give Rik information for the show he's producing.

Friday December 11th 8pm Holiday Sing

2009-12-08T21:20:00.003-05:00

Come Sing With Us!!

You’re invited to the tenth annual Beacon Sloop Club

HOLIDAY SING!

Featuring:

Pete Seeger

Jacob Bernz

Alison Hartwell

Creek Iversen

Rob Tepper - James Durst

Travis Jeffrey - David Bernz

Mel Healy and Vinnie Cerniglia

Roland Moussa - Chris Ruhe

Dan Einbender and the Kids From Room 12

Karen Brooks and Melissa Ortquist

Ingrid Heldt - Goldee Greene

Michael Scolnick, and other guests

The Beacon Sloop Club

(near the river at the Beacon train station)

Friday, December 11th

8:00 P.M.

Free admission - Please feel free to bring a finger food or desert item to share.

Please bring a donation of canned or pre-packaged food for the

Beacon food pantry.

Sunday December 13th 8-9pm WTBQ radio

2009-12-08T20:57:00.004-05:00

Those who tuned in last Sunday at 8pm to hear us on Jon Stein's show, The Hootenanny Cafe were surprised to hear the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album!

It was human error in the naming of the show resulting in the computer not recognizing it was there and skipping to the next show.

The show will air next Sunday, December 13th. It's in the 8-9pm slot but they play the news and weather first. It isn't archived, you can only listen live on the radio or live over the internet.

WTBQ 99.1FM is a local Orange County, NY/Northern NJ station which streams live over the internet at www.wtbq.com.

Don't be fooled. The Beacon Sloop Club Holiday Sing is this Friday December 11th, we had hoped to promote the show the Sunday before, not after.

Beautiful Slideshow from Nov 7th

2009-12-07T17:06:00.002-05:00

Emily Dermer, Rob's daughter put together a slide show from November 7th in Beacon. Turn on your computer sound, there is music with the pictures.

http://emilydermer.myshowit.com/river

Sunday December 6th 8-9pm WTBQ radio

2009-12-04T15:47:00.003-05:00

We spent an hour with Jon Stein this morning taping his WTBQ radio show The Hootenanny Cafe which airs this Sunday December 6th from 8-9pm. It isn't archived, you can listen live on the radio or over the internet.

WTBQ 99.1FM is a local Orange County, NY/Northern NJ station which streams live over the internet at www.wtbq.com. Jon's show is on Sunday nights at 8pm.

Jon asked us about the Clearwater and Ferry Sloop projects. We talked about sloop clubs, Broad Old River 2, the Holiday Sing on December 11th and River Pool at Beacon. We played cuts from Voodoo Blues and Broad Old River 2. We played some live music.

Please think of Broad Old River 2 as you go through the gifting season, they're easy to order from the Clearwater online store and all proceeds benefit the sloop maintenance. It's a big winter for both boats.

Concert Program

2009-11-14T21:24:00.001-05:00

Broad Old River 2 Concert PROGRAM

November 7th, 2009

Opening Ceremonial: The Indian Prayer Roland Mousaa

A Clearwater Tale Rik Palieri

Roll The Old Chariot Along Rick Nestler

Sailing Down My Golden River

Sarah Armour, Jacob Bernz,

Sarah Goldhammer, Rebekah Underhill Hval

Alex Kaminsky,

Haul Make Her Go High Pete Seeger, Geoff Kaufman, Travis Jeffrey

Lake Erie Lydia Adams Davis

The Ghosts Of Ellis Island Jan Christensen

Sailboat Clearwater Geoff Kaufman

Broad Old River Pete Seeger, Rob Dermer, Dan Einbender, Travis Jeffrey

Sailor's Husband's Lament Maryellen Healy

The Tugboat Song Steve Stanne

The River's Tale Jan Christensen

Sailors Prayer Peggy Atwood

Reflection Rik Palieri

Wind On The Water Bob Killian

The River That Flows Both Ways Rick Nestler

Sailing Time Steve Stanne

Cake Ceremony Pete Seeger

There'll Come a Day Bob Killian

Break for refreshment Potluck

Song Circle Jacob Bernz, Sarah Goldhammer,

Rebekah Underhill Hval, Alex Kaminsky Hosts

with Mike Meade assisting

Who were those volunteers?

2009-11-14T20:45:00.002-05:00

The support crew for the November 7th Song Writer's Notebook/Spittoon Studios Broad Old River 2 Concert

Sue Altkin, Polly Armour, David Bernz, Jacob Bernz, Scott Berwick, Tracy Berwick, Jim Birmingham, Jeannette Bragger, Vincent J Cerniglia, Galen Church, Emily Dermer, John Economos, Clare Francis, Allan Goldhammer, Sarah Goldhammer, Betty Harkins, Hart, Maryellen Healy, Marianna Holzer, Rebekah Underhill Hval, Creek Chris Iverson, Alex Kaminsky, Joe Kaminsky, Bob Killian, Dorothea Killian, Penny Kaufman and their friend Janet, Elfriede Lamhut, Mark Lamhut, Annabel Lindenbaum, Manny Lindenbaum, Dick Manley, Mark McCarrol, John McLaughlin, Elaine Meade, Michael Meade, Ken Miller, Jill Padua, Rebecca Padula, Rik Palieri, Beth Partridge, Ann Rommele, Chic Rommele, Margie Rosenkrantz, Pete Seeger, Maxine Smith, Zenote Sompantles, Kip Touraine and the dock moving crew of the Beacon Sloop Club, Alice Vaughan

heartfelt thanks

2009-11-14T20:44:00.000-05:00

Volunteers

Last Saturday a great event happened. It went so smoothly because of all you good folks did. This mass thank you in no way reflects how important each of you individually was to the success of the day on November 7th in Beacon. There were a lot of happy people at the event. After the event they're still remembering magic memories. Vinnie and I are among the happy, it was our pleasure to do our share of what needed to be done to make it happen. We were all part of something bigger than ourselves. Rik has the footage for the 2 part TV show and our sloop singer history is going into the Library of Congress. Through ticket sales, donations and CD sales over $1000 dollars came in in one day. Yesterday we sent our third check for sloop maintenance to Clearwater and Beacon Sloop club. Our BOR2 project is about raising money for sloop maintenance and spreading the Clearwater message through the music. It looks like all our goals were met, thank you.

We thank you for putting the project and our needs before your own. For providing the sloop singers and the audience with awesome hospitality from start to finish. For figuring out how to best implement my vaguely articulated vision of how this would work. Some of you set aside your plans Friday night and showed up as close to 7am on Saturday as you could and never stopped finding what else needed to be done. Some of you paid to see the concert or bought more CDs. For all the things you brought paid for out of your own pocket. For the miles you traveled and the hours you gave before the event. Our heartfelt thanks.

thanks

2009-11-14T20:07:00.001-05:00

Sloop Singers

Thank you for being with us on November 7th

Thanks for coming on time, for being prepared, for reading the emails, for asking your questions before the event, for doing more than visit, eat and sing, for thinking about the question and sending in written responses, and for thanking us after the event. We are among the happy people. It was our pleasure to provide you with an opportunity to reconnect in comfort. Many more volunteers put our needs before their own to provide us and the audience with awesome hospitality start to finish.

It doesn't mean we didn't see the exceptions. It doesn't mean that some could do better when they are guests in a facility like the Beacon Institute. It doesn't mean everyone is happy. But we were all part of something bigger than ourselves. Rik has the footage for the 2 part TV show and our history is going into the Library of Congress. Through ticket sales, donations and CD sales over $1000 dollars came in in one day. We sent our third check for sloop maintenance to Clearwater and Beacon Sloop club.

There are misconceptions about the day that we'd like to address.

It was not our (Mel and Vinnie's) intention to produce an audio recording, the sound crew was working on sound enhancement for the TV show clips.

There was not and is not a plan to issue a video of the concert. Rik used our BOR2 project as a way to get at sloop singer history. You came to be part of a concert of those songs and had a chance to tell what this has meant to you. Our BOR2 project is about raising money for sloop maintenance and spreading the Clearwater message through the music. It looks like all our goals were met, thank you.

Who was there November 7th?

2009-11-14T20:00:00.002-05:00

Broad Old River 2 Concert Chorus:

Sarah Armour, Peggy Atwood, Dan Berger, Jacob Bernz, Scott Berwick, Sue Cerniglia, Vincent J Cerniglia, Jan Christensen, Lydia Adams Davis, Robert (Diggit) Dermer, Dan Einbender, Sarah Goldhammer, John Guth, Spook Handy, Maryellen (Mel) Healy, Eric Hebert, Rebekah Underhill Hval, Creek Chris Iverson, Travis Jeffrey, Alex Kaminsky, Joe Kaminsky, Paul Kaplan, Geoff Kaufman, Bob Killian, Dorothea Killian, Bob Lusk, Michelle Marcus, Ira McIntosh, Roland Mousaa, Donna Nestler, Rick Nestler, Rik Palieri, Lois Pinetree, Moreen Ivice Rose, Eric Russell, Pete Seeger, Don Shappelle, Peter Siegel, Zenote Sompantles, Steve Stanne, Sarah Underhill, Hillary Zaenchik. In Memory: Geoff Brown, Helen Chrobocinski, Richard Chrobocinski, Rachel Gatland, Carl Schwartz

Sloop Singers not seated in the chorus who participated as audience or volunteer:

Sue Altkin (pre event), Polly Armour, David Bernz, Neal Keller, Dick Manley, Mike Meade, Ann Rommele, Margie Rosenkrantz, Jon Stein

If I missed someone use the comment box. If you want others to know how to reach you use the comment box and post your email or phone number.

FAQ 1

2009-11-14T13:42:00.002-05:00

Here's the number 1 most frequently asked question about the BOR2 CD: Can I get one at a discount?

Unless you are a radio station, the answer is no. Why is that?

We told our resurrection committee contributers who gave money out of pocket, not tax deductible that they would both spread the musical message of Clearwater and get more for their money. Sure, they could give the $25-$400 directly to sloop maintenance or invest in someone's CD project but this is something else.

Once we sell all 1000 copies (almost 200 sold already in three months) there will be $15,ooo given for maintenance on the sloops just from the sale of the CDs. Vinnie and I take nothing from this project, we throw in a bit of money here and there and give our time and money out of love and gratitude. Three sloops on the river are close in our hearts, one had only 20 years.

When we sell the last 2 autographed photos that money goes to the sloops maintenance.

The concert last Saturday brought in ticket revenue, donations and we sold CDs. We love the music, the community, the friends, the earth. This is our way of thanking Pete and Toshi for wonderful experiences and memories, helping ensure those sloops are there for others as they were for us.

If you were a royalty holder on the project (writer of a song or photographer) you recieved one free copy each time. Remember we first did the Limited Edition. Each copyright holder waived payment per copy. Thank you.

Contributers each got at least one free CD.

We have copies for radio station promotion and we hope to do some on air promotion next year.

We're not doing consignment because we have enough to keep track of without adding more.

Use the comment box if you still have questions about why we're not discounting the CDs.

Take action with us, order CDs from clearwater.org

for the cake ceremony at the concert

2009-11-06T02:29:00.002-05:00

Here are the cakes for the candle ceremony to close the concert. They're from Jill's Kitchen in Narrowsburg NY.

Lyrics and liner notes

2009-10-29T23:48:00.002-04:00

Lyrics and liner notes for all the songs are up at http://sites.google.com/site/broadoldriver2/lyrics

There is one pdf with all the lyrics or individual text files for each song.

The liner and jacket notes from the record are available.

The 20th anniversary Limited Edition CD notes are up.

Pass it along...

Direction to the Beacon Sloop Club

2009-10-29T15:49:00.002-04:00

Here's directions to the Beacon Sloop Club for the November 7th concert at 2pm.

Sloop Singers confirmed for the concert report to the Beacon Institute at Dennings Point at 10am.

The Beacon Sloop Club is located along the waterfront at the Beacon Train Station lot (Beacon, NY). The building is very unique as it has a tree growing through the roof. The address is Red Flynn Drive, Beacon NY, 12508

From New York and Westchester: Taconic Pkwy North to route I-84 West (Newburgh). Continue West on I-84. Take exit 11 (last exist beforeNewburgh-Beacon bridge). Go left at end of exit ramp. Cross overpass and continue on Route 9D to second traffic light. Make right onto Beekman St. and follow Metro North railroad signs down to riverfront. Festival is on river side of train station. Parking in station is OK on Sundays.

From Northern Dutchess County: South on Taconic Pkwy to I-84 West. Take exit 11 (last exist before Newburgh-Beacon bridge). Go left at end of exit ramp. Cross overpass and continue on Route 9D to second traffic light. Make right onto Beekman St. and follow Metro North railroad signs down to riverfront. Building is on river side of train station.

From West: New York State Thruway or Rte 9W to I-84 East. Cross Newburgh-Beacon bridge, staying in far right lane. Exit 11, just before tollbooth. Right at end of ramp, follow Rte 9D to second traffic light at

Beekman St. Turn Right and follow Metro North signs to riverfront. Building is on river side of train station.

From Albany, Kingston area: South on NYS Thruway to I-84 East. Cross Newburgh-Beacon bridge, staying in far right lane. Exit 11, just before tollbooth. Right at end of ramp, follow Rte 9D to second traffic light at Beekman St. Turn Right and follow Metro North signs to riverfront. Building is on river side of train station.

November 7th News Release

2009-10-28T20:09:00.000-04:00

Spittoon Studios

Contact: Maryellen Healy For Immediate Release

Tel: 845-744-5483 cell: 845-399-4630

email: melhealy@yahoo.com web: http://broadoldriver.blogspot.com/

CONCERT IN BEACON TO HERALD REMASTERED CD

BROAD OLD RIVER 2

Vinyl classic resurrected from the 1986 recording at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival. Five more songs incorporated and remastered with a new story to explain it all.

FUNDRAISER FOR SLOOPS CLEARWATER and WOODY GUTHRIE

AT THE BEACON SLOOP CLUB, on the river at the train station

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2009 at 2PM, $10

The Hudson River Sloop Singers, a musical arm of the Poughkeepsie/Beacon/ Saugerties based Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, were the backbone of Clearwater musical offerings during the seventies and eighties. Some were on the sloop Clearwater since the beginning. This unique folk ensemble spans four decades and grows as another musician joins the crew. This CD captures the sound and feel of the heyday of the group. In addition to remastering the vinyl release "Broad Old River", the original Beach Stage recording of the set in Croton Point Park that June night in 1986 has yielded five more songs that did not appear on the original vinyl, including two sloop singer classics, Sailing Time and The River That Flows Both Ways. Most of the performers on the album will lead their songs during this show. The chorus will include some who were not at the 1986 set. Children of sloop singers will also lead a song. Afterwards there will be an open music session where you can hear sloop singers not featured on this CD and more from those who were.

This day is not just another concert or a party. Rik Palieri explains:

When I was putting together the collection of my Songwriters Notebook TV shows for the Library Of Congress Archives, I had to watch most of the 145 shows before I sent them to Washington D.C. In my collection, there is one show that I archived that was about one of the last Pumpkin sails. It was while I was watching that show, that I realized that while there have been many films and videos done about the Clearwater, showing the Sloop Singers in the background, very few have talked about who these people were. It was that spark combined with the new release of “Broad Old River” that gave me the idea that we should do a new show based on the Sloop Singers.

When I started working with the archives they told me that they think of things in the context of what will be important at least 100 years from now. So this is really what we are doing on November 7th in Beacon, we are preserving our history for future generations, telling our stories so that long after we are all gone that our grandchildren's, grandchildren's, grandchildren, will be able to hear our stories and remember there was once a group of people who were bonded by the love of the Hudson River and a replica of an old sailing sloop and how that boat changed their lives.

In the Clearwater spirit and tradition we ask you bring food or drink to share for the after concert potluck. We’ll provide the cake. Bring instruments to the open session. We never know who or what will show up, but it is certain that Beth Partridge’s famous sloop cookies will be for sale during the show. All proceeds from the concert and sale of this CD directly benefit maintenance of the Sloops CLEARWATER and WOODY GUTHRIE.

###

For more information contact Maryellen Healy at melhealy@yahoo.com or visit http://www.broadoldriver.blogspot.com

A note from Rik Palieri

2009-10-23T15:35:00.001-04:00

Hello to all!

Yes, we are looking forward to this gathering to honor the Sloop Singers and to see and be with many old friends. As you can imagine this project has been a lot of hard work in getting it all together. It has taken months of planning and I have to thank everyone for your time and energy.

What this day is about is not just another concert or a party. It is a time to honor the Sloop Singers. Celebrating the group, not only for their good work to support the Clearwater, but for the vision itself and how in being a part of this group has in a way changed or shaped our lives.

When I was putting together the collection of my TV shows for the Library Of Congress Archives, I had to watch most of the 145 shows before I sent them to Washington D.C. In my collection, there is one show that I archived that was about one of the last Pumpkin sails. It was while I was watching that show, that I realized that while there have been many films and videos done about the Clearwater, showing the the Sloop Singers in the background, very few have talked about who these people were. It was that spark combined with the new release of “Broad Old River” that gave me the idea that we should do a new show based on the Sloop Singers.

When I started working with the archives they told me that they think of things in the context of what will be important at least 100 years from now. So this is really what we are doing on November 7th in Beacon, we are preserving our history for future generations, telling our stories so that long after we are all gone that our grandchildren's, grandchildren's, grandchildren, will be able to hear our stories and remember there was once a group of people who were bonded by the love of the Hudson River and a replica of an old Sailing sloop and how that boat changed their live's.

If we look at this day in this way, we can come together in the “Clearwater Spirit” and in that spirit, if everyone brings a little food and drink to share , I am sure that there will be enough for all.

Best Wishes,

and looking forward to seeing you on November 7th

Your Banjo Picking Pal

Rik Palieri

the mind of an organizer

2009-10-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

by Vinnie Cerniglia 10/22/09

Sunday October 25th CDs Available

2009-10-22T15:17:00.003-04:00

Please join us at 2PM on October 25th, at the Beczak Environmental Center, when UrbanH20 presents River Songs, a live music event featuring original songs celebrating the Hudson River. After the event, ticket holders are invited to attend a complimentary artist's reception featuring delicious food from Kingsbridge's Garden Gourmet, draft beer from the award winning Captain Lawrence Brewery, and wines from Artisan Wines.

River Songs features collaborative performances by Tribes Hill singer/songwriters Rick Nestler, Mel and Vinnie, Marc Black, Madhumita Chakrabartti, Iris Cohen, Andrew V. Craig, Eddie Denise, Phil Dollard, Joe Duraes, James Durst, Fred Gillen Jr., Great Blue, Joe Iadanza, Susan Kane, Judy Kass, Steve Kirkman, Eric Puente, Spuyten Duyvil, Pete Tamburrini, Matt Turk, and The YaYas. They will be joined on stage by noted Hudson Valley storyteller Jonathan Kruk and Victorio Roland Mousaa.

Tribes Hill members may purchase tickets at the discounted price of $14 for adults and $10 for seniors and children up to age 16 online at www.tribeshill.com. Tickets may be purchased at the event at the regular prices of $20/$14.

This event is made possible, in part, by the Arts Alive program of the Westchester Arts Council, with funding from the decentralization grants program of the New York State Council on the Arts.

Pumpkin festival

2009-10-21T21:31:00.003-04:00

It was a cold wet Pumpkin festival in Beacon on Sunday. The river rose into the parking lot. It was the perfect year to bring back Stone Soup. The music was inside the sloop club. We had our tent outside on the lawn with the compost exhibit, the stone soup and the pumpkins. Many other sloop singer faces to be seen and heard besides ours: Pete Seeger, Rick Nestler, Betty Boomer, Steve Stanne, Paul Rubeo, Jan Christensen, Eric Hebert and others. We sold some CDs. Jan took this photo.

concert flyer

2009-10-17T21:40:00.000-04:00

Broad Old River 2 Concert

2009-10-17T21:10:00.002-04:00

Saturday November 7th

2pm at the Beacon Sloop Club

$10 at the door, no advance sales

Hudson River Sloop Singers perform songs from the Broad Old River 2 CD for a taping of Songwriters Notebook, Rik Palieri's Vermont public access TV show which is archived in the Library of Congress. Join us for an open session after the show. Tickets at the door only. From 9D in Beacon, NY turn onto Beekman St. and follow Metro North railroad signs down to riverfront. Sloop club is on river side of train station, with a tree growing through the roof.

Proceeds benefit the maintenance and repair of the sloops Woody Guthrie and Clearwater, just like the CD sales.

Beautiful Album!

2009-10-01T18:48:00.002-04:00

Here's a nice review by the person who did the graphics for the 2007 20th Anniversary Limited Edition CD, she taught us well.

Mel and Vinnie,

Great job, guys!!! Top quality from the professional sound to the graphic design. The drawing on the front cover really pops with color and and sharp detail. My favorite photo is your's of the golden boom -- (must cost a fortune to re-gild it each spring).

Again, great job!

What's your next project ? A personal music one I hope!

Pat Korn

CD Festival Review from Mimi Cross

2009-08-22T21:40:00.002-04:00

The cd is WONDERFUL! I love it - we love it. Charles (my son) has been listening to it every night before bed. I am so impressed with the whole effort. Thank you for telling me all about it.

It's so special to have Helyn on there...I wish she could see/hear the cd...what a gift of a person she was. And it's absolutely marvelous that her artwork is the cover - and I love the picture (the whole layout is great) and it's perfect for the cover. I am looking forward to hanging the poster in Charles' room, he told me "Frame it!" Pretty sweet coming from a 3 year old who had 3 posters in his room as of now - and none framed! He knows something special when he sees it.

As much as I love performing at Clearwater the most blissful moments for me on Saturday happened when I sat listening to you all with Charles on my lap.

And he has asked several times since Saturday for the "mud water" song - that's the song that you sang! I sang along and apparently it was Charles' favorite.

I regret very much that I was not able to sing with you all on Saturday - we took two cars (my parents were there as well) and somehow between all of us walking around and having lunch and visiting with friends it just didn't work out, but like I said I loved listening to you all - I think I was actually a little shy in a way too...Would you invite me again next year?!

Very best,

Mimi

Mimi Cross was a main stage performer at the festival. Check out her website.

Pictures from Tise Tobin

2009-08-22T20:47:00.007-04:00

Tise Tobin sent 2 pictures, obviously someone else was shooting her camera. Here she is with Vinnie and her Dad, Barry Tobin.

Above that is Joe, Mel, Vinnie, Ingrid, Mike, Tise, Bob and Jan.

Photos from this site are a challenge with the shadows, water, sun, and shade. I lightened the top one to bring out the faces, but you loose some of the beautiful flags.

2009 Sloop Singer Reunion Photos

2009-08-19T21:39:00.002-04:00

There was a reunion in June at Clearwater's Revival, the usual sunday closing set at Circle of Song hosted by Rick Nestler.

The reunion in August at the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater festival closed the Circle of Song.

We put pictures of both events up on our website.

Sloop Singer Reunion at NJ Clearwater Festival

2009-08-19T20:48:00.005-04:00

Circle of Song

In the morning there were 20 minute sets by:

Steve Kaplan

Shirl Kaplan

Vinnie Cerniglia

Joe Kaminsky

Maryellen (Mel) Healy

Mike Meade

Ingrid Heldt

Eric Russell

Jan Christensen with Bob Conroy

Mel asked everyone join her to start working on harmonies during her set.

After Jan was an hour long break for an environmental justice roundtable followed by an hour long all performer round robin where we were joined by Tise Tobin, Bob Conroy and eventually Guy Davis. We started the Reunion early when he showed up. He was the festival headliner, closing the main stage and our plan was to breakdown, packup and lockup the Circle of Song after the Reunion to go hear him.

The Sloop Singer Reunion set:

Steve Kaplan, Nestler's River That Flows Both Ways

Bob Conroy, trad. Whup, Jamboree

Mike Meade, Palieri's Riding the Westbound

Joe Kaminsky, Donkey Riding

Maryellen (Mel) Healy, her Sailor's Husband's Lament

Guy Davis, Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

Vinnie Cerniglia, Winslow's It's the Clearwater

Ingrid Heldt, her Our Planet Earth

Jan Christensen, Winan's The River's Tale

Eric Russell, his Lower the Yawlboat Down

Tise Tobin, Seeger's Broad Old River

Tise Tobin, Reagon's Ella's Song (We Who Believe in Freedom)

Mike Meade, his I Still Remember (About Asbury Park)

Jan Christensen, his Ellis Island

Shirl Lawrence, MacDonald's Sailor's Prayer

CD Release August 15, 2009

2009-08-19T20:40:00.002-04:00

We're off to a great start. This was a one day free festival. We sold 51 CDs. Jan Christensen and Clare Francis did much of the table tending.

What's to come?

2009-08-12T01:24:00.001-04:00

lyrics
performer links
instrumental credits
more photos

It's here!

2009-08-12T00:35:00.005-04:00

It's been a long haul since June 2007 when we sold out the 100 Limited Edition CDs of the Broad Old River and sent $883 each to Beacon Sloop Club and Clearwater. The second phase of the project was a two-person initiative by Spittoon Studios, aka Mel and Vinnie. We continued collecting gifts for funding and were given a big boost by photographers Econosmith when they gave us 6 photographs to sell - framed, matted and signed by Toshi and Pete Seeger. We recruited Rik Palieri to create a story to lead the original album into the additional songs. He tells the listener about Clearwater and Hudson River Sloop Singers. John Guth, the engineer still had the original 8-track recordings from the 1986 set at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival from which 5 more songs were taken. He did his work for a tiny stipend. All else was blatant volunteerism. On August 7th 1000 CDs arrived in time for the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater Festival , Saturday, August 15th in Asbury Park. They'll be at the Circle of Song. All proceeds go for the restoration and maintenance of the sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie. Everything is paid for up front and out of pocket so the entire cost of the CD (except the tax) goes directly to the boats.

This project is a labor of love, artists helping artists who won't give up on this earth. We'd like share with you a musical slice in time on the Hudson River.