Acoustic Thursdays with Kurt Henry & Cheryl Lambert
January 8, 15, 22, 29. Kurt’s catchy vibe has been rocking the local music scene for years, and he plays his effervescent pop rock/folk at any venue he can get his hands on. Every Thursday at the High Falls Café he holds it down with his partner-in-rhyme Cheryl Lambert, and (thankfully) on the early side for us weary club warriors. Kudos to HFC proprietors Buffy and Brian, who work tirelessly to serve up delicious food and (yay!) free Wi-Fi. January 15’s guest performers include Julie Parisi Kirby and T.G. Vanini (of Princes of Serindip), Split the Bill, and Jeff Entin. January 22 brings Charles Cullen, Melinda DiMaio, and personal fave Barbara Dempsey. (Big Joe Fitz brings in his swingin’ jazz/blues dance every first and third Tuesday monthly.) 7pm. $5 suggested donation. High Falls. (845) 687-2699; www.highfallscafe.com.
Radio Fix/Middle America
January 9. Jimmy “Lonesome” Goodman, owner of Leopard Studios in Stone Ridge, cut his rock `n’ roll teeth playing with former members of Hanoi Rocks and recording the Strokes’ blockbuster debut. Now he’s onto the next big thing by producing Radio Fix, a young and blazing new band from Waterbury, Connecticut, that tracked him down for his hit-making ears. Already signed to the King of Beasts label, Radio Fix is in residence at Goodman’s studio for a few weeks this month and has planned a quick trip over to the Basement tonight to try out new material. Opening is another Leopard Studio alum band, Middle America, which features Mo Kelly shredding the guitar riffs (and pouring stiff drinks at the Basement on Monday nights). Goodman will connect his iPhone to the house system for a quick “DJ” set between bands. 9pm. $4. Kingston. (845) 687-9207; www.MySpace.com/radiofixband.
Shemekia Copeland Band
January 22. Grammy-nominated blues singer Copeland, still in her 20s, has already opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined the Chicago Blues Festival, and shared the stage with legends Buddy Guy, B. B. King, and Taj Mahal. Her father, the late Texas blues guitar legend Johnny Clyde Copeland, encouraged his daughter’s talent early on, even bringing her on stage to sing at Harlem’s famed Cotton Club when she was just 8. Local B-3 phenom Jeremy Baum rounds out Shemekia’s slamming touring band. 7:30pm. $30, 25. Pawling. (845) 855-1300; www.shemekiacopeland.com.
Michele Ramo Group
January 31. The Tom Humphrey Guitar Series continues to honor the memory of the late Hudson Valley-based luthier, who passed away last year. The idea came from Humphrey himself, just two months before his death, with the concerts scheduled into the vintage Ritz Theater. Chris Silva of the Bardavon and UPAC stepped up as point man, with help from La Bella guitar strings, and Safe Harbors of the Hudson. This month, enjoy the gypsy-world jazz of eight-string guitarst/violinist/composer Ramo and his knockout band, which features pianist Arturo O’Farrill, drummer David Silliman, bassist Nilson Matta, and vocalist Heidi Hepler. (When not leading his own ensemble, Ramo tours as a jazz violinist with guitar legend Bucky Pizzarelli, who brings his seven-string axe to the series on February 28.) 8pm. $25, includes postshow reception with the band. Newburgh.
(845) 562-6940; www.safe-harbors.org.