Community Calendar

Next Stage Arts and Twilight Music present Nashville-based bluegrass quintet Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road and Vermont singer-songwriter Diane Zeigler.

Hailed by No Depression as “the future of bluegrass,” Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road blend deep Appalachian roots with inventive contemporary musicianship. A Berklee College of Music graduate and the only musician ever to win multiple RockyGrass instrumental championships in the same year, Purcell brings a fresh, virtuosic approach to American string-band music.

Eight-time national songwriting award winner Diane Zeigler pairs crystalline vocals and distinctive open-tuning guitar work with finely crafted songs. After stepping away from performing for nearly two decades, the acclaimed Vermont songwriter has returned to writing and the stage. She will be joined by bassist Geoffrey Sather and special guests Bruce and Barry Stockwell of the Stockwell Brothers.

A string band jamgrass adventure through Jerry Garcia’s musical world
Step into a rootsy, free-spirited journey through the music of Jerry Garcia with Deadgrass, a jamgrass string band led by Matt Turk and C Lanzbom. Joined by bassist Dave Richards, banjoist Kris Bauman and fiddler Kensuke Shoji, this seasoned group reimagines Garcia’s songbook using the acoustic instruments that first inspired him. Drawing from Old & In the Way, Jerry Garcia Band, Jug Band favorites and beloved Grateful Dead classics, Deadgrass blends bluegrass, folk and improvisational spirit into a soulful tribute.

Rich harmonies, masterful picking and open-ended jams capture the warmth and spontaneity of Garcia’s musical world. With deep roots in folk, jazz, rock and Americana, Deadgrass creates a relaxed, immersive concert experience that celebrates the songs, the spirit and the community at the heart of the music.

Whether you’re a lifelong Dead Head or just discovering the groove, Deadgrass invites you to settle in, follow the jams and enjoy the ride.

This event is part of Hudson Valley Community College's Fall 2026 Lunchtime Concert Series presenting the free concerts from the very best local and regional musicians. This event is free and open to the public and is presented by the HVCC Cultural Affairs Program. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Viking Cupboard Food Pantry.

Musician and educator Scott Hopkins is an accomplished banjo player whose performances blend traditional bluegrass influences with contemporary interpretations.

He became interested in bluegrass and banjo music by listening to recordings of Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers that his father played while he was growing up. At age 15, he started taking private banjo lessons and joined the school band on tuba to fully immerse himself in the study of music.

As a tubist, Hopkins earned a Bachelor of Music Education from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Music Education from the University of Connecticut. He won the Crane Concerto Competition on tuba in 1995 and, since his college days, has played banjo in a variety of bands and collaborations.

In 2013, Hopkins released his first solo banjo recording project, a self-titled album featuring guest artists Mike Compton, Stephen Mougin, Casey Driessen, Andy Hall, Jesse Cobb, Randy Kohrs and Becky Buller, among others. In 2023, he released his second project, Just You, an album of duets with musical friends and heroes featuring Tony Trischka, Joe Newberry, Smokey Greene, Ellen Carlson and Bob Amos, among others. Both projects garnered critical acclaim.