Hello friends -
As the season begins to change and new music work is popping up on my calendar I realize that I haven't been in touch since high summer. We've got 3.5 months left in 2026. Wow, that went by quick! These last months and weeks have been packed full of music- public performances, teaching lessons, sharing music with friends, and hatching some behind the scenes projects that I hope to tell you about next time.
What sticks with me from that list is sharing music with friends - that's really what it's all about. Sometimes that's in a band or professional work situation - I am super lucky to get to make music with some of my best friends - and sometimes we simply set a time and date, put down our phones for a few minutes, and share some music for the fun of it. What a pleasure!
A few things on the horizon:
- After School Youth Folk Ensembles at Caffe Lena - FREE sample class 9/16, regular classes begin 9/30 [DETAILS HERE]
- Drank The Gold - Fri 9/18 with Benny Bleu @ The Cock 'n Bull; 9/20-24 Sailing with Kat Wallace on the Schooner American Eagle (sold out); Sat 10/24 4th Ooky Spooky Musical Showcase @ the Troy Music Hall [DETAILS HERE]
- Millstone Rounders - Sat 9/26 @ the Hub in Brant Lake [DETAILS HERE]
- 1st Tuesdays Irish Music at the Inn at Saratoga - mark your calendar: 10/6, 11/3, 12/1
All details are also listed on my website, oonagrady.com
More about the Youth Folk Ensemble Classes at Caffe Lena:
Music is a gift best shared with friends! Here is an exciting opportunity for youth 7-14 to learn music by playing together.
Weekly 45 minute classes will be focused on making music, including singing, exploring various string instruments, music theory basics, rhythm exercises, how to learn songs/tunes from scratch, confidence in performance practice, and more.
Youth Folk Ensemble is– Mixed ages and abilities: Open to any level of experience with music; Learn through listening and participation. Focus on repertoire: Learn classic tunes and songs from the American folk tradition as well as some favorite contemporary songs. Explore string instruments and singing, learning basic skills: Opportunities to focus on guitar, ukulele, banjo, mandolin, bass, and violin/fiddle; (for students interested in violin/fiddle it is recommended that they also be enrolled in private or school lessons). Learn music fundamentals: Develop strong and steady sense of rhythm; Learn how to listen and hear musically; Explore singing finding one's own unique voice. Learning valuable life skills: Working in a group setting; Creative contribution and compromise; Being part of a team and playing your part; Building friendships.
Wednesday, September 16th FREE Samples Classes at 3pm & 4pm
Wednesday, September 30th Classes begin
Details and registration links
Friday, September 18th James and I (Drank The Gold) are heading back to our favorite barn and steakhouse in Galway, NY, to play for the dinner hour (6-9 pm). We're bringing along our good friend and fantastic musician Benny Bleu. We've told you about him before - he sings great songs and plays tasty instrumentals, and bringing him with us to the Cock 'n Bull is becoming a treasured annual tradition. Reservations recommended: 518-882-6962.
We head out to Maine next week to sail the Penobscot Bay on the Schooner American Eagle with Kat Wallace, our third year playing ship's band on the Eagle's Celtic Isles trip. This trip is sold out, but stay tuned for next year's details. We'd love to bring you on such a wonderful adventure!
Saturday, September 26th the Millstone Rounders will be making our way up north to play the Adirondack Americana series hosted by the Park Theater at The Hub in Brant Lake. Carolyn Shapiro will open the show at 3pm and we'll play our set at 4pm. This is a special spot in the Adirondacks, along a lake, and the Hub makes a tasty sandwich. Plus - it's FREE!
Saturday, October 24th at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall - please join us for The 4th Ooky Spooky Musical Showcase
A host of local, acclaimed performers present creepy compositions of Capital Region crimes and macabre tales of the area's past! A unique musical event for the Halloween season! Join us for the fourth (!) iteration of the Ooky Spooky Musical Showcase, this year hosted at The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, NY.
Digging through the newspaper archives at the library, hosts Zan Strumfeld and Michael Gregg (two-fifths of Americana band Zan & The Winter Folk) found macabre tales of the Capital Region's eerie past, and asked local musicians to write and perform a ballad based on one article.
Come hear the debut of 10 brand new, original songs about creepy crimes and strange occurrences that have happened all over the region, featuring local musicians up for the challenge. They'll share their tale and sing their song during an intimate and special evening of storytelling and spookiness.
Last but not least, make sure you have Irish night at The Inn at Saratoga marked on your calendar. Every 1st Tuesday of the month we meet up in the bar, under the ship from 7-9pm. This is an informal sharing of Irish dance tunes and songs, buoyed by an engaged audience of interested listeners - please join us as we share our favorites. NOTE: Do to space and acoustics, the musician spots are by invitation only. Dates for the rest of 2026 are 10/6, 11/3, and 12/1.
Looking forward to sharing some music with you along the way,
xo Oona
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