AMPLIFIED: Music Notes from the Hudson Valley | June 2026

Summer arrives this month and concert calendars are abundant; what could be better?

Whether you prefer to set out a blanket for live music outside, dance your heart out in a sweaty crowd, or bask in the air conditioning of a seated theater, this month’s concert calendar has something for everyone. Plus, meet a local percussionist whose drumbeats have been heard across genres and regions, and learn about the area’s largest proscenium theater. 

Local Artist Spotlight: Manuel Quintana

For a percussionist, musical versatility is more than a skill; it’s a trait that opens doors. And not just for genre-crossing performance opportunities, but also for building a direct connection with audiences. After all, a drummer has the ability to act as a translator of the rhythms that shape our moods, reflect our ancestral heritages, and even alter our physical biology, as multiple studies have shown. 

The ability to adapt and evolve as a musician has been a defining factor of drummer Manuel Quintana’s musical career, a decades-long path that seamlessly flows between styles while still maintaining his signature sound: multicultural skill sets, expressive dynamics, and soulful grooves.

The Catskill-based percussionist can be seen around the region laying down a beat for various bands and artists like The Big Takeover, Rachael Yamagata, Simi Stone, David Baron, and Dylan Doyle, but over the years he’s also performed or recorded with renowned acts including Marshall Crenshaw, Billy Ocean, EnVogue, Corey Glover, Mark McGrath, CeCe Peniston, Natasha Bedingfield, The Temptations, Sugar Hill Gang and many, many more.

“I’m a creative in many aspects of my life, but music definitely dominates,” Quintana explains. “I like the fact that through music, there is unlimited reach. Whether it’s a live show or a recorded piece of music, the ability to reach people is what drives me. Being able to make someone dance at a show, feel the emotion of the song being played, and get a reaction is exactly what drives me.“

Born in Rome, NY, Quintana moved often as a kid; he was a teen when his family set roots in Puerto Rico, where he first began performing, influenced by artists like The Beatles, Fela Kuti, Prince, Brian Blade, and more. “Artists, writers, composers, and visionaries inspire me in music, in addition to my peers, my friends; too many to name,” he says. “In life, I’d have to say that farmers and farmworkers inspire me the most. That’s a hard job that requires so much love, care and attention to go from seed to plant, tree to food, and at the same time you know that one bad storm or weather change can ruin a crop instantly, yet there you are plowing through doing what needs to be done.”

He eventually found his way back to upstate New York, where today, Quintana mainly works as a drummer and percussionist (acoustic, electronic, or hybrid), although he also plays bass, guitar, and some basic keys in his studio, Beet Recording Studio.

“To me, a studio is at its best when it’s a place where artists can feel fearless about sharing their work and about exploring what it can become,”” 

The studio consists of a large live room with a baby grand piano, drum kits, and other instruments, as well as a full PA setup and a vocal booth. Off the control room, the rest of the building features a full kitchen, dining room, and bathroom for those longer sessions. “To me, a studio is at its best when it’s a place where artists can feel fearless about sharing their work and about exploring what it can become,” Quintana says. “Having the right setup for creativity and collaboration, and finding where the groove hits just right, isn’t always about the space or the gear, although it’s great to have this amazing landscape and a lot of fun stuff to experiment with. There’s something about what happens when people are sharing space, thoughts, and food.”

As for studio work, he’s shaping up some new material with artists like Dylan Doyle, The Big Takeover, and Andrew Jordan. Popular New Paltz-based funk-fusion band What? also recently recorded at Beet, shortly before Quintana delivered his own drum tracks to multi-instrumentalist Brian Mitchell for his tribute to Bob Dylan. “That was super fun to do, the songs feature Jeff Hill, Larry Campbell, and Danny Blume,” he says.

While you can often find Quintana performing at his favorite local venues like Colony in Woodstock, The Falcon in Marlboro, and The Avalon Lounge in Catskill, he’s got a “too many to list” run of dates ahead with performers like Jay Collins, Kate Skwire, Beccs, and more; find events listed on his Website or Instagram.

Stage + Scene: Bearsville Theater

The Bearsville Theatre remains one of the most truly unique venues Upstate. Located on the outskirts of the bustling shops and cafes of Woodstock, and surrounded by creek-lined forest, the venue maintains a rustic appearance, yet inside you’ll find one of the most state-of-the-art event production systems in two rooms (a lounge and main event space) sharing the music of top acts from near and far. When Peter Shapiro and Dayglo Ventures took over the historic space in 2024, adding Bearsville Theater to their family of venues including Brooklyn Bowl, The Capitol Theatre, and Garcia’s, they updated the existing sound system to one of the best on the market (although the building’s soaring wooden rafters make it an easy foundation to start with), enhanced their lighting, and brought in skilled engineers—as well as a packed lineup of nationally known performers, continuing this summer. Alongside Dayglo’s Hudson River Music Festival coming on Father’s Day, June 21, on the Hudson River, check out a few upcoming theater events below — then check out their full summer lineup on their Website or Instagram.

Upcoming Music Events

Find your new favorite artist, venue, or both at these upcoming concerts.

Wednesday, June 3

The Sweet Clementines
Colony | Woodstock NY

Thursday, June 4

Flamenco x Jazz: Emilio Solla + Antonio Lizana Quartet
The Local | Saugerties NY

Junco Partners Mardi Gras
The Falcon | Marlboro NY

Friday, June 5

Dogo Du Togo & The Alagaa Beat Band
The Local | Saugerties NY

Fun Lovin’ Criminals
The Lemon Squeeze | New Paltz NY

The Big Takeover
The Falcon | Marlboro NY

Saturday June 6

Full Circle Fest
Living Room at Full Circle | Gardiner NY

Midnight Ramble
Levon Helm Studios | Woodstock NY

Andy Falco’s Blues Laboratory
The Falcon | Marlboro NY

Sunday, June 7

Matinee and Evening shows: World-renowned Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca
The Local | Saugerties NY

Upstate Composer’s Orchestra
The Avalon Lounge | Catskill NY

Thursday
Bearsville Theater | Woodstock NY

Tuesday, June 9

Mekons with The Sadies
Bearsville Theater | Woodstock NY

Wednesday, June 10

Local Waves: Ongoing (free show)
The Local | Saugerties NY

Demolition Brass Band
Colony | Woodstock NY

Thursday, June 11

Alsarah & The Nubatones
The Falcon | Marlboro NY

Darius Rucker
Bethel Wood Center for the Arts | Bethel NY

Grahame Lesh & Daniel Donato (June 11th – 13th)
Bearsville Theater | Woodstock NY

Friday, June 12

Futurebirds
Levon Helm Studios | Woodstock NY

The Slackers
The Lemon Squeeze | New Paltz NY

Jillith Fair – Loving Jill Sobule – A Pride Month Event
Colony | Woodstock NY

Saturday, June 13

The Golden Eras of Jamaican Music: NYC Ska Orchestra featuring Larry McDonald of The Skatalites
The Local | Saugerties NY

Sunday, June 14

Janel Leppin / John & Dan
The Avalon Lounge | Catskill NY

Monday, June 15

Widowspeak
The Avalon Lounge | Catskill NY

Wednesday, June 17

Brian Mitchell & Friends
Colony | Woodstock NY

Los Diferentes Del Vallenato
Tubby’s | Kingston NY

Thursday, June 18

Bit Brigade
Assembly | Kingston NY

Friday, June 19

Juneteenth Celebration with ‘Ras T Asheber Posse
Colony | Woodstock NY

Son Little
Bearsville Theater | Woodstock NY

Saturday, June 20

Summer Solstice: Desert Blues with Nour Harkarti
Opus 40 | Saugerties NY

Sunday, June 21

Gratefully Yours
Gardiner Brewing Co | Gardiner NY

Hudson River Music Festival
Croton Point Park | Croton NY

Tuesday, June 23

Deer Tick with Jobi Riccio
Bearsville Theater | Woodstock NY

Thursday, June 25

Kid Again (Free Show)
The Lemon Squeeze | New Paltz NY

Friday, June 26

SG Goodman
Levon Helm Studios | Woodstock NY

Upstate Art Weekend x Noise For Now Dance Party
Assembly | Kingston NY

Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Society
The Falcon | Marlboro NY

Saturday, June 27

Paul Winter, Saxophone + Henrique Eisenmann, Piano
Maverick | Woodstock NY

The Satellites w/ Mona Freaka
Colony | Woodstock NY

Follow the Arrow Festival
Griffin House | Palenville NY

Bluestone Quarry (Dinner + Show)
Pearl Moon | Woodstock NY

Sunday, June 28

Andrew Jordan
Gardiner Brewing Co | Gardiner NY

Kasa Quartet with Anthony Ratinov, Piano
Maverick Concerts | Woodstock NY

Wynonna Judd & Melissa Etheridge
Bethel Wood Center for the Arts | Bethel NY

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Photos courtesy of Manuel Quintana + Neil Segal

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Explore our INSIDE+OUT curated Event Calendar for the best of the Hudson Valley’s events. Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter to keep your finger on the pulse of What to Do, Where to Go, and Who to Know.

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