AMPLIFIED: Music Notes from the Hudson Valley | February 2026

By Melissa Esposito | February 2, 2026

The more time you spend exploring the local music scene, the more you begin to see it as an interwoven community; a diverse tapestry of artists and fans each weaving their own thread to create a larger portrait of a place. Whether this melting pot soundtrack is so captivating because of this region’s proximity to NYC, a hub of world cultures, or from the inspiration artists glean from the Hudson Valley’s mountains and rivers, bucolic pastures, and urban landscapes, there’s a unique influence here that elicits a rare type of connection.

Local Artist Spotlight: Aubrey Haddard

This interwoven community is part of what drew Gardiner-based guitarist Aubrey Haddard to develop a series of projects centered around creating and sharing music. One project, The Nest, combines elements of an artist workshop with listening room vibes. “The Nest is a series I started with my friend Jose Lopez last winter when we felt an overwhelming desire to gather with our local peers and musicians in a comfortable space to simply enjoy the act of playing music together,” she says. “We specifically set out to give original artists a platform to share their work with other musicians and then play together, and our sessions at The Falcon have been some of the sweetest moments of community I have had in recent memory.”

Aubrey Haddard, Hudson Valley musician at The Falcon

This laid-back, authentic experience aligns with what more crowds are seeking: there’s deep value in witnessing shared creative processes when an artist emits truthful storytelling from the stage. “The value of storytelling as a noble act is maybe what inspires me most to perform music. I think gathering around art is also a very powerful privilege that we have,” Haddard explains.

Whether in groups or while sharing her own music, Haddard has performed around the region for about a decade. You can find her slinging a Fender Jazzmaster ’62 reissue while performing a range of rock-based genres from indie to psych to folk, and more, at venues like Assembly in Kingston, The Falcon in Marlboro, and Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. She also offers lessons, which led to her next community: Play Like A Girl.

“I recently started a group guitar class just for women, girls, and femme-identifying folks hosted at Full Circle in Gardiner,” she says. “This class is very close to my heart.” The all-level lessons meet every other week; the next two classes are on Thursdays, Feb 5 and Feb 19. The following Thursday, you can catch the next Nest session (Feb 26) at Full Circle in Gardiner, featuring singer-songwriter Julia Zivic.

“I think audiences are seeking unique, authentic experiences,” she says. “t I do believe the more authentic an artist is to themselves, the more they will connect with the audience around them.”

To learn more about Haddard’s music and upcoming performances, visit aubreyhaddard.com or find her on Instagram.

Stage & Scene: Assembly

Assembly is aptly named, a 450-capacity music venue and event space located on the third floor of a former school building (where assemblies were held) in Uptown Kingston. In just over a year since opening, they’ve brought a long list of acclaimed acts, from homegrown favorites like The Felice Brothers and Big Takeover, to international stars like Femi Kuti and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Run by a team of partners who have a long history in the Hudson Valley music scene, the venue also offers a rarely seen option for walk-up box office ticket purchases, in addition to online availability at assemblykingston.com. Assembly is located at 236 Wall St, 3rd Floor, in Kingston, NY. Assembly photos by Mulography.