Common Ground Coffeehouse is a monthly music and performing arts series (usually) held at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester in Hastings-on-Hudson NY. It was founded as an effort to build community and to support regional and national musicians and other artists. Since 2005, Common Ground has used its profits to operate the Common Ground Microcredit Fund. The fund raised has raised over $20,000 for local, regional and global community groups and organizations that provide either much needed social services or work toward progressive, nonviolent social change. For more information on Common Ground’s social justice mission, and to learn more about the Common Ground Microcredit Fund, please click here.

Now in our eigth year, Common Ground has hosted such beloved national and regional artists as Chris Smither, The Holmes Brothers, Kimya Dawson, Jen Chapin, Guy Davis, Sloan Wainwright, The Kennedys, Red Molly, Emma’s Revolution, Great Lake Swimmers, Nerissa and Katryna Nields, Rachelle Garniez, and many more. For many years, Common Ground was a regular stop on the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s Annual Most Wanted Preview Tour. In addition to traditional and modern folk artists and singer-songwriters, we frequently feature other musical genres, such as jazz, blues, cajun-zydeco, popular song, R&B, and even the occasional evening of avant garde gamelan music!

Please click here for directions

November 6th, 2009, 7:30 pm

Common Ground Downtown

at the James V. Harmon Community Center
44 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson NY
presents

Driftwood

with special guests, Greetings From Anywhere

This concert is sponsored by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company of Pleasantville, NY
featuring Captain’s Reserve Imperial IPA
Gold Medal Winner, Best Craft Beer in New York State, 2006 Hudson Valley Craft Beer and Food Festival

“Driftwood draws you into their world by mixing clever lyrics with beautiful melodies. They delight listeners and leave them begging for one more song.” -Michael Kinney-WSKG TV

“Driftwood is a band with a multi-talented blend of musicians who bring traditional American roots music to a whole new level, creating a truly unique sound by blending old time folk with modern and world music.” -Kayla MacLachlan-Upstate Live

Incorporating acoustic instruments and elements of Old Time, blues, jazz and modern music, these shanty rockers from Binghamton, NY have put together a traditional/original show that’s nothing short of world class music. Driftwood’s virtuosity is matched by their versatility and they are able to play sweet and sultry ballads with as much drive and passion as an up-tempo romp. That’s why Driftwood has been in high demand by Upstate New York audiences since their 2006 formation. Band members Dan Forsyth (Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals), Joe Kollar (Guitar, Banjo, The Box, Drums, Keys, Vocals), and Claire Byrne (Fiddle, Vocals) come from many different musical backgrounds, and together they reinvent the songs of traditional American roots music by blending them with the sounds and feel of modern and world music. Since forming, Driftwood has appeared at a number of jam band and bluegrass music festival, including Ithaca’s famous Grassroots Festival, the mainstage at the Chenango County Bluegrass Festival, the Newark Valley Bluegrass Festival (First Place, Best New Band), and the Quixotic Music Festival. Aside from their regular gigs, Driftwood is not above setting up in a park or playing as street musicians in order to share their music with the masses.

Joining Driftwood will be Dobbs Ferry’s own Greetings From Anywhere. Greetings from Anywhere showcases classic staples of roots rock, rhythm and blues and bluegrass, as well as originals, with fresh, vibrant acoustic interpretations that feed on the melodic interplay between guitars, cello, violin, mandolin, drums and harmonic vocals.

November 21st, 2009, 7:30 pm

Special Double Bill!

John Elliott and Anthony DaCosta

“John’s well-crafted, concise and very catchy songs feature a Paul Simon sense of song structure and vocal mannerism. They get in, make their statement, kick you in the teeth and get out before they start talking too much” — San Diego Troubadour

Anthony daCosta performs John Elliott’s “Concerning the Lincoln and Douglas Debates”

“To witness a performance by Anthony da Costa is akin to being invited into a friend’s living room. He’ll pull out a guitar, then casually say, ‘I wrote this song because I was thinking of…’, then proceed to share a work of art.” —    Richard Cuccaro, Publisher, Acoustic Live

John Elliott performs Anthony da Costa’s “Note”

Tickets: $15 for adults and $12 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

December 19th, 2009, 6-10 pm

Common Ground Holiday Celebration

with Richard Slade, First U Rock and Soul Revue, and more TBA

Common Ground is all about community so please join us for a multi-genre holiday celebration. From classical song from tenor Richard Slade to R&B versions of your favorite seasonal tunes from the Rock and Soul Revue, this night has something for everyone.

Tickets: $15 for adults and $12 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

January 30th, 2010, 7:30 pm

Susan Werner

“Susan Werner, a clever songwriter and an engaging performer, brings literacy and wit back to popular song.” -The New Yorker

“(Werner is) a songwriter and musician who is in such complete command of her gifts that it’s almost scary.” -All Music Guide

Tickets: $20 for adults and $18 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

Saturday, February 27th, 2010, 7:30 pm

The Western Wind

Concert will be held at South Presbyterian Church, Dobbs Ferry NY

The Western Wind, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, embraces a repertory that includes a huge range of music from Renaissance motets to rock ‘n’ roll, from medieval carols to early American music to the avant garde.

“A kaleidoscopic tapestry of vocal hues… Long may The Western Wind blow; long may its sounds renew and challenge us “
—The New York Times

“…versatility…virtuousity…a stunning concert.” — The Los Angeles Times

Tickets: $20 for adults and $18 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

March 27th, 2010

Special Double Bill!

KaiserCartel and Winterpills

“While KaiserCartel look like a couple of emo kids who have lost their way don’t be deceived, they certainly bring their own brand sunshine with them and that reflected light is as warm and inviting as anything you’ll find.. A fantastic collection of songs from two people that know how to play with each other and for each other. My album of the year so far.” —411.com on KaiserCartel

“[KaiserCartel] are two elementary school teachers from Brooklyn. One is called Courtney and is a girl. The other one is called Benjamin and is a boy. Courtney (guitar, vox, piano, drums) is extremely cat-ish and Benjamin (drums, vox, guitar, birthdays) is extremely dog-ish. You would expect them to just chase each other around the studio the whole time yapping and hissing but they didn’t. Not all the time. They both have wonderful voices and make music that is simultaneously eccentric and classic.” — Matt Hales, aka Aqualung, on KaiserCartel

“This Massachusetts band [makes] lush, off-kilter pop-rock in which nothing makes sense but everything sounds wondrous.”   – USA TODAY on Winterpills

“Pain, sadness and fractious circumstances are an inescapable fact of life; Winterpills’ music doesn’t seek to amplify the hurt as place it in life affirming settings of richly articulated melodies and carefully rendered arrangements.” – Paste Magazine

Tickets: $18 for adults and $15 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

April 24th, 2010, 7:30 pm

Uncle Monk

featuring Tommy Ramone and Claudia Tienan,
also appearing Spuyten Duyvil

“There is life after the Ramones, but who knew that its sound would be bluegrass? Tommy Ramone plays a mean mandolin in this new acoustic duo, singing tautly written songs with tenderness about the comforts and subtle politics of home life.” —The New York Times

“[Spuyten Duyvil  covers] the whole spectrum of Americana— Civil War, early Americana (like in Colonial). Great arrangements and beautiful harmonies. They hit on something very special here and I love it. I’m having them back. Trust me.” —Elliott Glick, Starving Artist Café, City Island

Tickets: $18 for adults and $15 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

May 22nd, 2010, 7:30 pm

Tracy Grammer

“Tracy Grammer is a brilliant artist and unique individual. Her voice is distinctive, as is her mastery over the instruments she plays.” —Joan Baez

“One of the finest pure musicians anywhere in folkdom.” —The Boston Globe

Tickets: $18 for adults and $15 for seniors (60+) and students (12+); kids under 12, free

June 5th, 2010

TBA