This summer, the Rock Valley School House will fill its preserved one-room space with an eclectic lineup of live music ranging from folk and Irish traditional music to experimental sounds and jazz vocals.
Co-curators Julia Greenberg and Chris Peacock are shaping the summer programming at the Long Eddy venue in Delaware County, where they say the historic building itself is central to the experience.
“The Rock Valley School House is a gorgeously and perfectly preserved school house,” Greenberg said. “What is so special about about the place is that the acoustics for presenting music are just absolutely magnificent.”
Peacock said the series continues to draw artists from both near and far. He pointed to returning performers such as Jennifer Coates (as part of the trio Toolik), recalling his first experience hearing music at the schoolhouse more than a decade ago.
“That was my first time I saw music in the schoolhouse,” Peacock said. “Even thinking back to those days, I think about how exciting that was and the acoustics in there still make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.”
This year’s lineup includes regional and national performers such as Hancock-based musicians Julia Joseph and Chris Anderson, Irish traditional singer and multi-instrumentalist Ailise, vocalist David Driver, and songwriter and accordion player Rachelle Garniez.
Greenberg said the curation is guided less by genre and more by how artists fit the unique setting. “We really are following in Bobbie Oliver’s footsteps,” she said. “She really sought to curate programs that fit the space, no matter the genre.”
Oliver helped establish the schoolhouse performances and a fundraiser honoring her legacy will be held May 30 at Rock Valley Spirits in Long Eddy. The event will include music, a silent auction and community gathering to support ongoing programming and preservation efforts.
Greenberg said the mission remains tied to keeping the historic building active and accessible. “We’ve traditionally asked for a $10 contribution for every show, but it is pay what you will,” she said. “All of the proceeds from the door support the upkeep of the schoolhouse.”
She added that the experience extends beyond the performances themselves. “It’s really like a micro community within our broader wonderful community,” Greenberg said.
Image Credit: Rock Valley School House