Jazzheads, Exult: Music Festival to Arrive in Lower Hudson Valley

Don’t you know I danced, I danced ‘til a quarter to three…

While the above refrain may be foreign to the uninitiated, for many the lyrics—peppered with horns and rosy percussion—are a preview of what’s on the horizon.

Peekskill’s Jazz and Blues festival is slated for late July, and headlining the musical bazaar is Gary US Bonds, who belted the above ditty on the 1961 track “Quarter to Three.”

The festival—which draws an audience from a broad swath of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and New York City—is planned for Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27. This year’s fete will mark its seventh consecutive year.

The Jazz Festival is organized and orchestrated through the zealous efforts of Peekskill’s Business Improvement District (BID), said Jason Angell, the organization’s leader. BID aims to support the businesses and property owners of downtown Peekskill.

“We’re really trying to make [this] a showcase for all things downtown,” Angell said.

The swing-and-jive tunes will parallel an outdoor food court that spotlights local eateries, aptly named Peekskill Eats.

“Peekskill is diverse ethnically and food-wise,” Angell said, rattling off a list of treats.

“All the restaurant in the [city’s] north division will have sidewalk seating,” he added.

The food court will open at noon on Saturday, and run alongside the Hudson Valley Artisan Fair—a slate of 17 local and nearby vendors who will be selling wares.

“We’re pushing the idea that Peekskill is the creative economy capital in Hudson Valley,” Angell said.

The weekend’s centerpiece—horns, drums and scat—will kick off at 3 p.m., across two stages.  Five musical acts will perform outdoors and inside, at Peekskill’s recently re-done Paramount Theatre. The Paramount is helping the BID to produce the musical portion of the festival this time around, Angell said.

All performances will be free, as is access to the food court and art fair, Angell added.

The event usually draws between 3,000 and 4,000 spectators, a major influx for local businesses.

“It’s a big stimulus for the local, downtown economy,” Angell said. “It’s a boon for business.”

Still, Angell is optimistic about a swell in attendance.

“We’re hoping this year we’ll grow to five or six thousand,” he said.

The details

*Access to the concerts, Peekskill Eats and Hudson Valley Artisan Fair is free and open to all 

*A free trolley will run between the Peekskill Metro North station and festival all-day Saturday. “Last year, [the trolley] picked up between 200 and 300 people at the metro,” Angell said.

*Headliner Gary US Bonds has been playing for over 40 years, and boasts five Top Ten Billboard hits. He’s also received hat-tips from Bruce Springstein.

*One local band will perform, selected from nine Lower Hudson Valley jazz and blues groups that slug it out in a battle of the bands. “It’s our take on “American Idol,” Angell said. “We’re calling it ‘Best of the Valey.’”

*The musical performances begin at 3 p.m. and run until 10:30 p.m.

*Bands on the bill can be viewed here.