NEWSLETTER
Emily King, Chicha Libre, The Big Takeover, And A Diverse Lineup of Artists to Perform
This year’s Summer Concert Series features in-demand performers of Afro-Cuban Music, Reggae, Rock, Indie Pop, New Orleans Soul, Cumbia, Desert Blues, & More
Saugerties, NY — World-famous sculpture park and museum Opus 40 teams up with Saugerties’ center for arts and culture The Local once again for a series of ten summer concerts under the stars and among the earthwork sculpture of late-artist Harvey Fite.
Opus 40 is a spectacular 6.5-acre bluestone sculpture that sits among 60 acres of forest at the foothills of Overlook Mountain. But it’s also a destination for the arts, having gained notoriety as an outdoor amphitheater; even Rolling Stone once dubbed Opus 40 as “the best outdoor performance venue in the Northeast.”
In the past, Opus 40’s Summer Series has included top acts like reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, avant-jazz performers Sun Ra Arkestra, Colombian cumbia royalty Yeison Landero, and a long list of others. Last year’s inaugural “Rock the Quarry” festival wrapped the season by bringing regional artists both well-known and up-and-coming for a full day of music, including multi-instrumentalist Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz), Cindy Cashdollar (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm), Jack Petruzzelli (The Fab Faux, Joan Osborne), and many more; it returns this year with even more top acts listed below.
This summer’s full lineup is packed with an exciting, diverse schedule:
2026 Summer Concerts:
June 20: Summer Solstice: Desert Blues with Nour Harkarti
July 5: Afro-Cuba! Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca
July 18: Reggae on the Rocks: The Big Takeover
July 25: Emily King
July 31: Rock the Quarry Festival: (Cindy Cashdollar, Jack Petruzzelli, Will Bryant, Rich Pagano, Ben Zwerin, Gail Ann Dorsey, Sandy Bell, Jay Collins, Storey Littleton, and more)
August 8: Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars + Live Visuals by BA Miale
August 22: Euphonia Balkan and Brass Festival
August 29: Akwesasne Freedom School Benefit
August 30: Cumbia Vortex: Chicha Libre + Live Visuals by BA Miale
September 5: Primal Disco with Michael Vadacchino! + Live Visuals by BA Miale
“At The Local, we aim to showcase a diverse range of beloved artists from both around the world and around the corner, and we’re excited to bring that same concept to Opus 40. It’s an incredible sight to see artists performing alongside such beautiful sculptural art, as audience members sprawl across the lawn or let loose on a grassy dance floor while the sun sets behind the mountains. There’s an unforgettable community vibe like no other that you’ve got to experience,” says The Local co-founder Isabel Soffer.
Tickets are available at Opus40.org/events
Photos of artists can be found here.
Also of note!
Opus 40 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the completion of the sculpture this year and continues a calendar of events all season. Events and workshops include several dates for beloved programs like:
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Geology Walks with Dr. Robert Titus
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Mushroom Walks with Chris Baker
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Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk with Dina Falconi
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Biodiversity Exploration Walk with Luke Sarrantonio
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Indigenous History Walk : A Glimpse into the Past with Justin Wexler
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Weekend wellness programs: Yoga, QiGong, and Soundbaths
About Opus 40:
Opus 40 is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization comprised of a 6.5-acre earthwork sculpture created by Harvey Fite, with 60 acres of meadows, forested quarry trails, and bluestone quarries in the heart of the Hudson Valley in Saugerties, NY. Opus 40 stewards the magnificent stonework sculpture and its surroundings, and fosters direct connections between his living artwork and the public. Through vibrant arts, environmental, and educational experiences, Opus 40 shares and amplifies Fite’s inspirational vision as a place for visitors to explore and reflect on the relationships between nature, local history, and the arts. A new member of Historic Artists' Homes & Studios, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Opus 40 has also partnered with Bloomberg Connects on a free digital guide to enhance your experience with historical insights about Harvey & Barbara Fite, the construction of Opus 40, and Fite’s carved sculpture plus never before seen photos & videos, as well as info on our events.
About The Local: The Local is a venue for arts and culture, and a community hub founded on the belief that diverse, accessible, and thoughtful arts programming has the power to open minds and hearts; that the arts are essential to a healthy community and bring economic vitality to the region. The Local opened in September 2023 and is now a nonprofit organization under the guidance of Isabel Soffer and Danny Melnick, two insatiably curious Saugerties-based music producers who have each devoted more than 30 years to producing festivals, concerts, conferences, recordings, and curated arts experiences. The Local is committed to cultivating and sustaining a vibrant local arts scene in the Hudson Valley. Learn more at TheLocalSaugerties.com.
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