Graceland Way album cover by Mikaela Davis with copy written across it "AMPLIFIED: Music Notes From the Hudson Valley"

AMPLIFIED: Music Notes from the Hudson Valley | September 2026

By Melissa Esposito | September 1, 2026

When an artist has joy and passion for creating music, they can expand beyond expectations for how their instrument should sound. The same guitar, for instance, can lead a heavy metal group or an ambient dream-pop duo. Curiosity-driven exploration expands the boundaries of the sound that can be played; isn’t that why we call it playing, after all?

This month we’ll explore two subjects that defy preconceived notions: the traditional harp as an Americana instrument and a farm-brewery that also serves as a live music venue.

Local Artist Spotlight: Mikaela Davis

When we consider the harp, we often think of traditional classical music or a quiet, seated elegance. Harpist singer-songwriter Mikaela Davis proves that the ethereal instrument can be down-to-earth, defying the borders of the classical genre by creating songs that span folk, country, jam, and even psych-jazz.

Mikaela Davis in a white suit with red hearts and bouquet of roses and white cowgirl hat

Photos by Bobbi Rich aka Mama Hotdog

Originally from Rochester, but now based in Catskill, Davis is a classically trained harpist. “I started playing harp through school when I was eight, eventually moving on to private lessons,” she explains. “I was performing classical solo harp music at recitals and in orchestras before I was a songwriter.” After college, Davis found inspiration in improvisational music and leaned into the styles of jazz harpists like Alice Coltrane, Brandee Younger, and others. As her unique sound evolved, it caught the attention of artists in fringe genres like psych-rock, alt-country, and the jam scene, where she began making waves with folk, Americana, and other multifaceted artists over the years.

Now at age 34, she’s shared a stage with the likes of the late Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Bon Iver, Lake Street Dive, Marco Benevento, Joe Russo, and many more. She’s also released five studio albums; her latest, Graceland Way, which she describes as “canyon country,” came out in April this year through indie label Kill Rock Stars.

Opening track “(Looking Through) Rose Colored Glasses” (featuring Madison Cunningham) kicks off with a classic-rock/folk feel with sauntering rhythms, harmonized storytelling vocals, and other traditional country-pop elements, until an unexpected psychedelic glissando bridge gently presses you back in your seat.

Mikaela Davis in a white suit with red hearts and bouquet of roses and white cowgirl hat in the desert

Photos by Bobbi Rich aka Mama Hotdog

The album also features tracks like “Wild Flower,” which begins with warm melodic strings, softly echoed vocals, brushed drums, and flowy, twangy guitar (John Lee Shannon); it feels like an American West bliss-dream in which Sheryl Crow, the Grateful Dead, and Ennio Morricone meet the divine feminine.

“Graceland Way was inspired by the beauty and magic of California and all of the legendary music that was born in the Golden State,” she says. “The songs often started as a chord progression and a melody,” she explains. “My partner John Shannon and I fleshed them out until a song was born. I’ll often keep jamming on an idea and come up with several different melodies until one really sticks with me. Lyrics always come last; sometimes I’m even still tweaking them in the studio while I’m recording vocals.”

While Davis’ songs lean more pop and alternative on her studio records, her live shows incorporate more improv, jamming, and stretching out a song or putting a new spin on a track, making each performance stand out from the next.

“When people come out to multiple shows they’ll likely see something new,” she says.

Graceland Way album cover by Mikaela Davis

Photos by Bobbi Rich aka Mama Hotdog

Although the album may have been inspired by the West, you can catch Mikaela Davis and her band performing in the region, including on September 4 at Assembly in Kingston. View Mikaela Davis’ full tour and purchase (or stream) the new album on her Website and connect with her on Instagram.

Stage & Scene: Arrowood Farms

Stage with crowd and pond at Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery in Accord NY. Families and people enjoying the show and making bubbles at Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery in Accord NY.

Two singers on stage at Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery in Accord NY.

Photo by Noel McGrath

Arrowood Farms is a farm brewery, distillery, and event space situated on 48 acres in Accord, known just as much for its brews and spirits as it is for its impressive range of concerts and festivals, including Waxahatchee, Kevin Morby, Kurt Vile, Sun Ra Arkestra, The Felice Brothers, Amy Helm, and many others. Arrowood Farms partners with Impact Concerts for their annual Woodsist Festival, happening this month and featuring nearly 20 performers, bands, and DJs over two nights, September 26-27. (Tickets for the rain-or-shine event can be purchased at HERE.) In October, look for the Annual Harvest Festival featuring local food and artisan vendors as well as live music throughout the day, culminating with ska-dub-reggae band The Big Takeover as headliner. Learn more about Arrowood Farms on their Website and Instagram.

Seating outside at Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery in Accord NY. People hanging out playing cornhole on the lawn at Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery in Accord NY.