planting tomatoes in the heart of midtown

Jul 30

It’s not hard to understand why Lucy Dacus can pack out a house, especially after her stop in the Ulster County Performing Arts Center on Broadway in Midtown Kingston.

The vivacity of the night filled the theater as soon as the house lights went down and the orchestral introduction slowly rose from the speakers. A blue hue silhouetted the band as they rushed on while opening with the euphonious ‘Calliope Prelude’ from her fourth album, ‘Forever Is A Feeling’ (which the tour is aptly named after). ‘Hot & Heavy’ from her third album, ‘Home Video’ followed.

Photographing in the soundbooth meant a bird’s-eye view of the crowd’s excitement. Cheers and claps rumbled the theater akin to the first strum of the bass guitar.

Those who attended the Lucy Dacus Lookalike Party presented by UPAC neighbors: beer garden West Kill Supply and thrift store Rewind Kingston were primed for the concert with a Lucy Dacus inspired button and carabiner making station. One winner took home a $50 Gift Card to Rewind and an ‘I love Lucy (Dacus)’ gift bag.

Concertgoers and passersby also had a free “pre-show” concert from artist Ginger Winn in West Kill’s backyard. She took the stage and gracefully spun the folktronica anthems of her debut album ‘Stop-Motion’ and the alt-rock bangers of her sophomore album ‘Freeze Frame’ into a light-as-air acoustic performance, bidding farewell to those heading to the concert with a cover of Lucy’s latest song ‘Planting Tomatoes.’

The Lucy Dacus Lookalike Party is one of a series of events created by the Flood Family, owners of Rewind Kingston, in conjunction with their upcoming culminating event: the Heart of Midtown music festival on September 19 on Field Court. The community that came together for the pre-show is at the center of the festival’s ethos: music, mental health, and art converge in one day to raise awareness in honor of their sister and daughter Cassidy Flood.