Jeremy Baum on the street in front of a venue with "AMPLIFIED" written across the bottom.

AMPLIFIED: Music Notes from the Hudson Valley | July 2026

By Melissa Esposito | June 30, 2026

This month, we’re all about summer celebrations, so it only makes sense to highlight an artist whose infectious joy on stage brings a smile (and a hip shake) to all who listen. And with the warm weather in full swing, that means you’ll find festivals galore this month. From unique outdoor spaces to inaugural riverfront fests to all of your favorite local clubs, our list of events will keep you dancing all month long.

Local Artist Spotlight: Jeremy Baum

Closeup of Jeremy Baum playing the accordion with a fedora hat on.

Photo by Neil Segal

It’s easy to tell when a musician is having a great time on stage, and a very special experience for the audience. The crowd can feel that energy. Sometimes it comes through in the showmanship of a flamboyant frontman, but other times all it takes is seeing a subtle smile and nod or a closed-eye sway. For seasoned performers like keyboardist/organist/accordionist Jeremy Baum, the passion for playing is omnipresent, whether pre-show, on stage, or in a crowd supporting friends. “I’m driven by a passion for music, combined with a desire to make a living utilizing my musical abilities, and with sharing what I’ve learned with others,” he explains.

Over his decades-long career, the New Windsor-based Baum has performed with an eclectic roster of artists; if you haven’t seen or heard his music, chances are you know someone who has. He toured with award-winning blues vocalist Shamekia Copeland for six years and often plays locally with well-known acts such as Corey Glover’s Soul Experience, Dylan Doyle Band, Jose Lopez, Hudson Valley Dub, and countless others. His own projects are just as varied, and each has its own built-in audience, from the soul-funk outfit The Dirty Funk Contingency to his Vince Guaraldi tribute, which highlights the soundtrack of A Charlie Brown Christmas, a holiday season favorite that sells out venues like The Falcon and Mohonk Mountain House.

His newest project, Fat Cakes, just started booking shows around the region. The diversity of his musical influences truly shines through here, with inspiration from Ray Charles to Pink Floyd, The Band to Chick Corea. “‘Fat Cakes’ is a song by Jimmy McGriff that’s organ and horns-driven, super fun and funky, so I wanted to name a project after that song with a lineup with some of my friends that I don’t get to play with often, who are all busy with various projects but live in the NYC/Hudson Valley area,” he explains. “It focuses on deep tracks of funk and R&B with vocals, but also extended instrumental jams that the audience can dance and groove to. I just want to throw a dance party with my funkiest friends so everyone can have a shared and beautiful experience while celebrating the thriving music and arts community we have here!”

That same infectious joy transfers from stage to studio, whether at his home setup or in a state-of-the-art sound lab.

“My process is to just listen to the song and then follow my instinct to see how what I hear in my head might contribute to the overall theme and feeling of the music,” he explains. “I’ve always done recording session work to some degree, and I’ve been really fortunate to work with various friends and musical artists on their projects lately; it’s the best gig in the world to be able to be part of a creative project with your friends, laughing and making new music all day. It’s the best.”

“My process is to just listen to the song and then follow my instinct to see how what I hear in my head might contribute to the overall theme and feeling of the music”

You can often catch Baum at venues around the Hudson Valley like The Falcon, The Lemon Squeeze, and Colony Woodstock; you might even see him at a friend’s wedding, as he’s involved with multiple agency bands. This month, he’ll be kicking off July shows with a set by Fat Cakes at The Falcon on July 1, followed by The Dirty Funk Contingency at Pearl Moon on July 3. View all upcoming shows on Jeremy Baum’s Website + Instagram.

What’s next for Baum? More collaboration and more celebration.

“I hope to do more collaborations on songwriting with new friends I’ve been making,” he explains. “Ultimately, I think the best way to grow as a human and as an artist is by trying to be a good and honest person. Everything we learn, we learn from each other, so treating each other with respect and honesty and kindness and understanding is how we cultivate healthy relationships, and through those relationships we will have more chances to learn and celebrate life together.”

: Photo by Noel McGrath

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Stage & Scene: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

A crowded concert at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

Celebrating 20 years of the place that peace happens.

It’s easy to see why the organizers of the original Woodstock festival chose the location they did. Now the home of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, this pastoral amphitheater offers the scenic beauty of the Catskills as its backdrop—only now, it’s modernized with state-of-the-art sound, a winding walkable campus dotted with food and drink vendors, a sloping lawn area that fits up to 10,500 guests, and a covered pavilion where with another 4,500 guests can sit to watch world-famous performers on stage.

If you’ve been to a show here, it’s easy to see why it was voted the number-one amphitheater in the US by USA Today readers this year.

If you haven’t been there yet, you’ll have plenty of opportunities throughout the year; besides concerts, their on-site museum is filled with facts and nostalgia of 1960s culture, and the organization offers holiday events, such as a pumpkin sculpture walk-through each fall. But the main events are their summer shows, including this month’s lineup: Paul Simon (July 3), Santana and The Doobie Brothers (July 4), Lindsey Stirling (July 10), and Buju Banton with Stephen Marley (July 12), among many others.

View the full lineup at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Website. For extra perks and VIP invitations, become a Member

aerial view of the pavillion at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.