Solaris—an international folk-roots fusion band—will be performing at the Kleinert James Art Center in Woodstock on Thursday, April 28 at 8pm. Admission is by donation.
The evening will include a devotional presentation of Gurdjieff Movements.
Solaris includes nine or more multi-instrumentalist musicians and songwriters playing acoustic guitars, keyboard, accordion, trumpet, saxophone, mandolin, drums, bass, fiddles, and more.
Solaris performances have been described as "mind blowing" and "magical," with "pure and relevant" music, "beautiful harmonies," and "so positive" lyrics, leaving audiences "nothing short of inspired and uplifted" or "absolutely blown away."
Their aim in performing, recording, and giving away music is to contribute to the awareness, consciousness, and response-ability of those playing and listening, and thereby encourage right action on behalf of all beings everywhere.
This musical mission arose after many years of traveling and working together—from snow-buried tents beside a frozen lake in northern BC, to touring around the Pacific Northwest aboard a 60-foot wooden sailboat; from sharing an outdoor kitchen with black bears on an off-grid homestead in the woods, to life in a turret-cornered chateau in Northeastern France; long-haul drives across most of the countries in Western Europe, and hundreds of meetings, gatherings, and encounters along the way.
The original songs of this nine-piece folk-roots ensemble began as an exercise in musical journaling, shared within the context of a dedicated group of spiritual practitioners. The collection grew and occasional evening events with close friends evolved into a musical repertoire appreciated by people of many faiths and walks of life.
The troupe now travels frequently, recently completing a four month tour of the Western States. Presenting in many diverse settings; at interfaith events, sanctuaries, eco-villages and for practitioners of many traditions, traveling as a non-profit music group is the most recent in a long series of adventures focused on embodying the teachings of self knowledge, development, team work, and service in daily life.
The Solaris Project is part of the work of a larger group based in the Pacific North West, established in the early '80s. Other projects include intensive work with Gurdjieff Movements, meditation and music, education and homeschooling, non-profit educational publishing, a traditional family fiddle band, programs in sustainability and permaculture, and an ongoing series of international seminars on topics of self-knowledge, transformation, and awakening.
If you just can’t get enough inspiring folk-roots fusion music, make it a Solaris-filled weekend and head to St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery on Sunday, May 1 at 3:30pm for an encore. Admission by donation.
