The Local’s 4th Year Starts September With Nearly 30 Eclectic Performances

Saugerties, NY — September 2026 marks the start of the fourth year that The Local in Saugerties bridges global and regional music, arts, and culture by showcasing world-class live performances in an intimate yet immersive space. This upcoming season’s jaw-dropping lineup continues to highlight the best music from around the world and around the corner, with nearly 30 diverse events and award-winning artists.

The full lineup is listed below, but here are just a few hot-ticket examples: The season opens Sat., Sept. 19 with Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya, a revered pioneer and master of Hindustani slide guitar, whose career spans nearly half a century. The inimitable Alexis P. Suter brings her booming, soulful baritone voice’s unmatched raw power on Sept. 26.

One eclectic October weekend at The Local features guitar master Kaki King (Oct. 2), zydeco with Cedric Watson and Ethan Moody (Oct. 3), and jazz led by trailblazing trumpeter Adam O’Farrill (Oct. 4). Later in the month, Tuvan throat singing troupe Alash Ensemble returns Oct. 24—their 2025 show at The Local sold out far in advance.

November highlights include masters of jazz, Afro-funk, Americana, and more, while the season ends mid-December with a stunning gospel holiday performance by Damien Sneed with special guests (Dec. 18).

The ongoing Local Waves collaboration with Chosen Family Presents and WaveFarm Radio’s WGXC continues throughout the season with free monthly performances by Hudson Valley-based artists.

What else is new at The Local?

The venue has come a long way since its opening in 2023; the historic space (originally a Dutch Chapel built in the 1870s). The relentless progressive vision of co-founders Isabel Soffer and Danny Melnick, paired with highly successful crowdfunding and ardent community support, has allowed for structural necessities, building preservation efforts, and experiential enhancements; the latter includes better sound and lighting, a thoughtfully curated bar selection, status as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The evolution continues, yet the outcome remains the same: uniting communities and cultures through the arts by bringing world-class artists to the region while providing a platform for local musicians to connect with audiences. The accolades continue to roll in from artists, media, and audiences.

“As we reflect on our third anniversary, our goal wasn't simply to create a music venue. We wanted to build a place where artists could be heard with the attention they deserve, and where audiences could discover music they might never encounter otherwise. This fourth season continues our commitment to curiosity, excellence, and community,” says co-founder Danny Melnick.

>> Interviews and press passes are available; here’s a link to artist photos.<< The Local’s Winter/Spring 2026 Lineup & Event Calendar Descriptions

Sat., Sept. 19 at 8pm - Indian Slide Guitar: Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya & Suryadipta Bhattacharya & Samir

Chatterjee

Fri., Sept. 25 at 8pm - OFF Broadway: Ryan Shaw & Ray Angry

Sat., Sept. 26 at 8pm - The Blues: Alexis P. Suter Band

Sun., Sept 27 at 5pm - Jazz Vocal Trailblazer: Thana Alexa

Fri., Oct. 2 at 8pm - Guitar Master Kaki King

Sat., Oct. 3 at 8pm - Zydeco: Cedric Watson and Ethan Moody

Sun., Oct. 4 at 5pm - Jazz Trumpet Trailblazer: Adam O’Farrill’s ELEPHANT

Thurs., Oct. 8 at 7pm - The Raul Midón Experience

Fri., Oct. 9 at 8pm - Forever Muscle Shoals: Chrissi Poland and Friends

Sat., Oct. 10 at 8pm - Odessa Gangsta Funk: Kommuna Lux from Ukraine

Wed., Oct. 14 at 7:30pm - Free Event - Local Waves: Nic Panken

Thurs., Oct. 15 at 7pm - The Voice of Cape Verde: Lucibela

Sat., Oct. 17 at 8pm - Seeds Under Nuclear Winter: An Earth Opera with Andes Manta ,Mamalama, and special guests

Wed., Oct. 21 at 7pm - Special Show TBA

Fri., Oct. 23 at 8pm - Bluegrass! East Nash Grass

Sat., Oct. 24 at 8pm - Tuvan Throat Songs: Alash Ensemble

Sun., Oct. 25 at 5pm - Ma Rainey’s Living Tradition of the Blues

Thurs., Oct. 29 at 7pm - Latin Jazz & New Orleans Piano Trailblazer: Oscar Rossignoli Trio

Fri., Oct. 30 at 8pm - String Quartet Brooklyn Rider Presents: Chiaroscuro

Sun., Nov. 1 at 5pm - Jazz Saxophone Trailblazer: Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio

Wed., Nov. 11 at 7:30pm - Free Show - Local Waves: Brother Jax

Fri., Nov. 13 at 8pm - Afro Funk: Kaleta & Super Yamba Band

Sat., Nov. 14 at 8pm - The Voice of Brazil: Bia Ferreira

Thurs., Nov. 19 at 7pm - Folk & Americana: The Legendary Jim Kweskin & Samoa Wilson

Thurs., Dec. 3 at 7pm - Songs from the Rat Pack to the Andrews Sisters: Duchess

Sat., Dec. 5 at 8pm - Southern Italy and Beyond: Maria Mazzota

Wed., Dec. 9 - TBA Local Waves

Fri., Dec. 18 at 8pm - Gospel Holiday: Damien Sneed

Tickets and additional info at TheLocalSaugerties.com

OPENING NIGHT Sat., Sept. 19 at 8pm - Indian Slide Guitar: Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya & Suryadipta Bhattacharya & Samir Chatterjee

World-renowned virtuoso Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya pioneered and mastered the Hindustani slide guitar. With a career spanning over 45 years, Debashish has performed live and recorded with greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Cindy Cashdollar, John McLaughlin, Derek Trucks and many others.

Fri., Sept. 25 at 8pm - OFF Broadway: Ryan Shaw & Ray Angry

GRAMMY-nominated vocal powerhouse Ryan Shaw and multi award-winning pianist, composer, producer Ray Angry (also a member of The Roots) present OFF Broadway, a very special evening of music and storytelling featuring soul-inspired contemporary versions of classic Broadway songs.

Alexis P. Suter is an American-blues and soul-blues singer-songwriter with a voice ranging from pained passion to explosive and soul bearing. Her band burst on the scene with regular performances at Levon Helm’s legendary Midnight Rambles, opening for Helm nearly 100 times.

Sun., Sept 27 at 5pm - Jazz Vocal Trailblazer: Thana Alexa

This Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer pushes boundaries from jazz to global and electronic soundscapes. She’s also recorded nine albums with her husband, drummer Antonio Sánchez (Pat Metheny, Birdman composer).

Fri., Oct. 2 at 8pm - Guitar Master Kaki King

Rolling Stone has called Kaki King "a genre unto herself” for her groundbreaking approach to the guitar and her fearless exploration of music and art. Her sound is described as both hypnotic and intricate, with complex rhythms and melodies that push the boundaries of what is possible on the instrument.

Sat., Oct. 3 at 8pm - Zydeco: Cedric Watson and Ethan Moody

Louisiana’s Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter considered one of the brightest talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco. He and Moody will perform a mix of rare, obscure, and modern songs.

Sun., Oct. 4 at 5pm - Jazz Trumpet Trailblazer: Adam O’Farrill’s ELEPHANT

Brooklyn native Adam O’Farrill has cemented himself as one of the most in-demand trumpet players on the international contemporary jazz scene, and is widely recognized as“a blazing young trumpet talent” (The New York Times). ELEPHANT is O’Farrill’s latest band.

Thurs., Oct. 8 at 7pm - The Raul Midón Experience

This Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter guitarist blends soul, jazz, Latin, R&B, and folk, turning his guitar into an orchestra and his voice into a chorus. Blind since early childhood, Midón has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Snoop Dogg, Roberta Flack, and many others.

Fri., Oct. 9 at 8pm - Forever Muscle Shoals: Chrissi Poland and Friends (all-star band ft. Tash Neal - guitar (Robert Randolph); Etienne Stadwijk - keys (Bettye LaVette); Ivan Bodley - bass (Sam Moore) and Tony Leone - drums (Little Feat)

For this show, acclaimed soul singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Chrissi Poland shines a light on the music recorded in the 1960s/’70s Muscle Shoals, Alabama scene. Throughout her career, she’s performed at iconic venues and recorded with artists like Hozier, Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, and more.

Sat., Oct. 10 at 8pm - Odessa Gangsta Funk: Kommuna Lux from Ukraine

Outrageously fun Kommuna Lux from Odessa, Ukraine perform thrilling klezmer music, common gangster folk songs, and urban chanson from their hometown, a vibrant port city famous for its significant Jewish culture and as the birthplace of the Urban Chanson genre.

Wed., Oct. 14 at 7:30pm - Free Event - Local Waves: Nic Panken

Near Divine or Merely Rhyme is the debut solo record from Kingston, NY songwriter Nic Panken. Born in Brooklyn, he has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe, performing on NPR's Tiny Desk, at Newport Folk Festival, and more as lead singer of NYC band Spirit Family Reunion.

Thurs., Oct. 15 at 7pm - The Voice of Cape Verde: Lucibela

West African island nation Cape Verde’s Lucibela is regarded as one of the leading voices of her generation, a guardian of the island’s treasured musical heritage that blends African, Portuguese, and Brazilian influences. She performs morna, gentle melodies of love and longing, and coladeira, its vibrant counterpart.

Wed., Oct. 21 at 7pm - TBA

Fri., Oct. 23 at 8pm - Bluegrass! East Nash Grass

Nashville's newest bluegrass ambassadors were named New Artist of the Year by the Int’l Bluegrass Music Assoc in 2024. The secret to their success is breathtaking talent, irreverent, adventurous, and audacious spirit and an unflinching ability to be themselves.

Sat., Oct. 24 at 8pm - Tuvan Throat Songs: Alash Ensemble (+ pre-show workshop)

The magic of Tuvan throat singing lies in each singer’s ability to produce (at least) two notes at once: a low, growling drone that resembles an electric buzz and a high, clean whistling that evokes the wind. Alash are also masters of traditional Tuvan instruments and their last show here sold out in advance.

Sun., Oct. 25 at 5pm - Ma Rainey’s Living Tradition of the Blues

Known as the "Mother of the Blues," Gertrude Pritchett, AKA Ma Rainey, blended vaudeville and Southern blues through her powerful vocals, engaging stage presence, and storytelling, capturing the experiences of Black life during segregation. The concert features an exploration of her classics.

Thurs., Oct. 29 at 7pm - Latin Jazz & New Orleans Piano Trailblazer: Oscar Rossignoli Trio Honduran-born pianist and composer Oscar Rossignoli is celebrated for his innovative sound, melding classical piano with his love for Afro-Cuban music and American jazz, coupled with the rich cultural tapestry of his homeland. Featuring Peter Varnado (drums) and Lex Warshawsky (bass).

Fri., Oct. 30 at 8pm - String Quartet Brooklyn Rider: Chiaroscuro

Brooklyn Rider is a radically innovative string quartet that reimagines the centuries-old chamber music format for the 21st century. Known for breaking genre boundaries, they effortlessly blend classical music with world, jazz, and folk, frequently collaborating with a diverse roster of global artists.

Sun., Nov. 1 at 5pm - Jazz Saxophone Trailblazer: Rudresh Mahanthappa Hero Trio

This tribute to the heroes of alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa honors legendary sax players such as Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, Ornette Coleman and legends Charlie Parker, Keith Jarrett, Stevie Wonder, and Johnny Cash. The trio will perform interpretations with original arrangements.

Wed., Nov. 11 at 7:30pm - Free Show - Local Waves: Brother Jax

Fri., Nov. 13 at 8pm - Afro Funk: Kaleta & Super Yamba Band

Afrobeat and Juju legend Leon Ligan-Majek (Kaleta) has led Super Yamba Band since 2017; his career includes performing with Juju master King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80, Lauryn Hill, and more. Super Yamba Band members have played with David Byrne, Rubblebucket, Yeasayer, and more.

Sat., Nov. 14 at 8pm - The Voice of Brazil: Bia Ferreira

Bia Ferreira is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and artist-activist for LGBTQIA+ communities. Her music blends Afro-diasporic rhythms, including soul, blues, Afrobeat, reggae, Brazilian padogão, and conscious rap.