You’ve binged through your entire Netflix watch list, read through that dusty stack of books and magazines and feel the need for something live and fresh. You’d also like to support your local performers and venues through the COVID-19 shutdown. Not all the stages are dark. So many Hudson Valley venues are offering live streaming performances that you can take of advantage of from home.

Live Music

Probably one of the most personal performances comes from alt-Country singer Amy Helm, daughter of The Band’s drummer Levon Helm. Amy and her friend Connor Kennedy decided if you can get curbside pick up for dinner and drinks, why not a Curbside Concert? On Wednesdays and Saturdays, Amy and Connor will be performing in someone’s driveway at a safe social distance. The first week’s concerts sold out, but you can sign up on her website for future performances at http://www.amyhelm.com/curbside.

Radio Woodstock with sponsor Ulster Savings Bank present Sofa Sessions – live performances from local artists streaming live on the Radio Woodstock Facebook page. Tubby’s Kingston is also streaming intimate living room shows from local artist nightly on their TubbysKingston Instagram page

The Falcon in Marlboro has links to streams from their archives on their Live at the Falcon Facebook page.

In the mood for some jazz? The Jazz Forum in Tarrytown has you covered with live streamed performances from their Jazz Forum Club Facebook page.

The Colony of Woodstock hasn’t given up on Open Mic night. They host it now on their Open Mic Facebook Group. You can also participate in a Virtual Open Mic Night every Tuesday from Helsinki Hudson on their YouTube ClubHelsinki.live channel.

While many Hudson Valley music lovers await the re-opening of the classic Bearsville Theater now that it’s under new ownership and has been recently renovated, we can get our Bearsville music fix from their YouTube Channel. They are also offering “Bearsville Uncut” performances every Saturday at 8pm on Facebook Live @Bearsville Theater.

Maybe you just need some background music to keep you motivated while you work from home. The Avalon in Catskill has put together a Spotify playlist featuring music from some of the performances that had to be cancelled. Tubby’s Kingston also has a Spotify playlist on their Instagram page.

You can relax and pretend you’re sipping your quarantini on the Balcony at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with live performances from ETHEL every Friday evening at 5pm. ETHEL is one of the most acclaimed string quartets in the contemporary classic field. Get their schedule and listing of special guests on the Met Museum website.

Live Performances

The Fisher Center at Bard College plays host to a variety of performances from live music, theater, lectures and more. While the Center is closed they are offering many different performances live through The Fisher Center’s Virtual Stage. You can also view their archived past performances on their website.

Missing the opera or live classical music? The Lincoln Center has created Lincoln Center at Home, a portal with links to concerts, workshops, and the Metropolitan Opera.

Learn Something New and Have Fun!

Maybe instead of seeking others performing, you want to take time to hone your own musical skills or expand your cultural horizons.

The Beacon Music Factory offers online music lessons with one-on-one instruction through Zoom.

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck has lots of online events to keep you occupied from Theater Geek Trivia Night to workshop classes on their Center for Performing Arts Facebook page. You can learn about makeup, dance, stage managing, theater tech, costuming and more.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts can keep you occupied with virtual Paint & Sip Parties, educational workshops, story time, live streams and virtual art tours. You can find it all on their Bethel Woods Center Facebook page.

In addition to the amazing stonework and sculptures, the Opus 40 Sculpture Park and Museum is also a popular performance venue in Saugerties New York. While the physical location maybe closed right now, they are offering Opus-Online, a virtual art, culture and education portal. Check out poetry, live musical performances, workshops in writing, theater, photography, cooking lessons and much more.

The Unison Arts Center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enriching cultural life and community in the Mid-Hudson Valley continues their mission of making arts and culture accessible to all with a plethora of online classes and online events featuring dance, exercise and music.

Finally, for the nature lover, the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, New York, known for it’s popular music festivals and dedication to environmental education will keep you busy with live streaming educational seminars and music performances. You can find out what’s up next on their Ashokan Center Facebook page.

The Hudson Valley has always had a vibrant music community and close connection to the arts and culture. Social distancing restrictions don’t have to keep us from our entertainment.