A MUSICAL PLACE
The Local brings world-renowned musicians to the town’s Reformed Church
Nestled in the village of Saugerties, within the town’s Reformed Church, sits up-and-coming event venue The Local, bringing globally renowned musicians to the area to perform live shows for Hudson Valley natives and visitors from around the country.
The venue sits in a restored 1800s Dutch chapel, transformed into a modern live music venue by Isabel Soffer and Danny Melnick, co-founders of local organization Hudson Valley Live.
Melnick and Soffer have long careers in the music industry. “Danny specializes in jazz, he’s deeply involved in the jazz world,” said Soffer. “I specialize in music from around the world.”
After moving to Saugerties, the two reconnected, wanting to collaborate on a musical project. “We didn’t know what it would be,” Soffer said. “But we did know that we wanted to try and do something special up here together.”
According to Soffer, the location of the space within the village is becoming a sanctuary for local development. “I call it a cultural corridor,” she said. Within a few blocks, businesses including Catskill Mountain Moonshine, a local brewery, the Newberry Artisan Market, which hosts over 40 local vendors, as well as cultural installations like the Saugerties Public Library, make the area a place of importance in the community.
Since its opening in 2023, The Local has hosted numerous performances and live events. “We have an incredibly diverse roster of events,” Soffer said. “I don’t even think that there’s one way that you could describe what we host, except that these are bands, dancers, and even talks in some cases, that people will just love.”
On Friday, April 5, The Local will host Woodstock native Simi Stone, with Jack Petruzzelli and Friends. “She really has her own style, moving from punk to rock to soul,” Soffer said. The performance is part of The Local’s series of “Saugerties Sessions,” highlighting Hudson Valley musicians.
Soffer is particularly excited about the Hudson Dance Party, set for Saturday, April 6, headlined by DJ Nickodemus. Nick
odemus is the founder of “Turntables on the Hudson,” a party that began in New York City in the 1990s. His performance at The Local will be the first iteration of the event to take place in the Hudson Valley.
As part of her background in world music, Soffer, along with Melnick, strives to bring international acts to the region as well. “We have a music and dance from Veracruz, Mexico, which is also going to be a very special show,” Soffer said. The female-led act, taking place Wednesday, April 10, features music, dance, and poetry.
Coming up in June are two more international performances. World-renowned and Grammy-award-winning Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor will perform on Saturday, June 15, featuring traditional Persian music. “He plays in Carnegie Hall, and major theaters all across the country, and he’s coming up to do a very special, intimate show just for us,” Soffer said. “It’s going to sound incredible in the space.”
Ukrainian folk music quartet DakhaBrakha will perform on Tuesday, June 25, and Wednesday, June 26. The Wednesday show was added after the Tuesday show sold out. “They really have a nice following here in the region,” said Soffer.
“It’s just so incredible to see the response from a show like that up here,” said Soffer in response to the popularity of DakhaBrakha’s upcoming performance. “The hope for me and Danny is that people trust that we’re going to be bringing really good musical discoveries to the area.”
The venue’s garden will open this Spring as well. “You can grab a beer and sit out there, it’s just a beautiful space,” Soffer said.
The Local is currently in the middle of a fundraising event, having just received a $20,000 matching grant from a donor. The grant is funding what are, according to Soffer, needed repairs to the venue. “The people that have supported our fundraising campaign, we don’t know most of them,” Soffer said. “There are people who are just supporting us because they appreciate what we’re doing, it’s incredible love that we’ve gotten from the community.”
According to Soffer, The Local’s backbone is the patrons of arts and culture that visit the venue. The Local has had visitors from as far as Texas and Florida. “We’re really finding incredible, openminded music listeners,” said Soffer. “It’s really important for people to be able to hear all kinds of music and experience all kinds of music.”
In addition to the support of The Local’s guests, the venue has formed a partnership with the Saugerties Reformed Church, with whom they share their site. “The Church is so excited to have people coming in and using the space and creating a community there, and we are really grateful,” Soffer said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
The Local has already welcomed over 2,000 people to Saugerties. According to Soffer, this is very important to the area, as visitors to The Local often stay in Saugerties, shop, and eat at local businesses, contributing to the economy of the region.
The Local is already preparing their fall schedule, with even more performances set to take place beginning in September. For more information about the venue or a full list of upcoming performances, visit their website at thelocalsaugerties.com.
The Local can also be found on social media platforms at @thelocalsaugerties.