Fine traditional music, where it started - right at home
ROCKY TOP - our home... and the concert site.
Only the sign by the road gives us away
ROCKY TOP - making a name for ourselves as the place in the area to hear traditionally-grounded music from top tier full-time touring professionals, many of which have not played in New York's Capital District or the Mohawk Valley before. The series is limited to 4 shows a year and many in the audience take pains to tell us how much they look forward to each one.
Performances are quite varied with no compromise in quality. Making it more exciting, each one of us gets the equivalent of front row seat, we get to meet the performers in an informal setting and to get to know them. Part of their reward is getting to know you. Our artists love to play here for that reason. You could pay $50 or $100 for a seat and be one of 1000, looking with opera glasses at a speck on the stage, but that's not what we do. We're talking intimate and friendly instead, expect a magic evening.
Located on a main road halfway between Albany and Utica, Rocky Top is a private residence, perched upon a limestone escarpment overlooking a waterfall. You need go no further than the deck to see it. Our floor plan is open as kitchen, dining and living rooms merge into a 470 ft2 “warm” room, highlighted by large beams which support a ceiling of Southern Yellow Pine. This room can seat 35-40 friendly people and a few select times a year it becomes home to the “Rocky Top Concert Series”. From the road, Rocky Top cannot be seen; only a sign by the road (above) gives it away. There is ample off-street parking. Many guests arrive early so they can visit our gardens or the orchid greenhouse and partake in a pot-luck meal. Others stay on and jam, inspired by the music they have just witnessed.
Performances are quite varied with no compromise in quality. Making it more exciting, each one of us gets the equivalent of front row seat, we get to meet the performers in an informal setting and to get to know them. Part of their reward is getting to know you. Our artists love to play here for that reason. You could pay $50 or $100 for a seat and be one of 1000, looking with opera glasses at a speck on the stage, but that's not what we do. We're talking intimate and friendly instead, expect a magic evening.
Located on a main road halfway between Albany and Utica, Rocky Top is a private residence, perched upon a limestone escarpment overlooking a waterfall. You need go no further than the deck to see it. Our floor plan is open as kitchen, dining and living rooms merge into a 470 ft2 “warm” room, highlighted by large beams which support a ceiling of Southern Yellow Pine. This room can seat 35-40 friendly people and a few select times a year it becomes home to the “Rocky Top Concert Series”. From the road, Rocky Top cannot be seen; only a sign by the road (above) gives it away. There is ample off-street parking. Many guests arrive early so they can visit our gardens or the orchid greenhouse and partake in a pot-luck meal. Others stay on and jam, inspired by the music they have just witnessed.
"Thank you so much for inviting us into your home for the concert. Jim and I enjoyed it so much!!! Haven't had so much fun in such a long time. Food was delicious, people were fun, and the performers were outstanding! Again Thank you and your wife for such hospitality,...would love to come again." - Terri
Our House Concerts are often prefaced by a popular Pot Luck Dinner for those who pre-register. Once in a while, there may also be additional special events, a guitar workshop, guest performers, a warm-up band, a “Cranky Festival”, or a song circle or hoot following the concert. Prices asked are merely suggested; please give as you are able. Performances most often take place Friday or Saturday evenings or late Sunday afternoon. But not always. We take performers when they are in the area and available; that's how you can get to see an entertainer of top caliber so inexpensively and in such an intimate setting. They love to play house concerts and find them personally more rewarding than big venues.
Since Rocky Top is a private home, guests are here by invitation. Most are on our email list (sign up if you are not on it already), but many guests find out about a concert in other ways and ask to be invited. That is perfectly acceptable; we are warm and friendly people, and we'll never have too many friends. This is not some exclusive club.
At each concert, everyone gets the “best seat in the house”. You won't be more than 20' from the performers and will be able to hear and to see perfectly. You will get to meet our guest performers, talk with them, and begin to know them as people, not just as stage personalities. Yes, some of their names will be familiar to you beforehand, and some will not. But all are full-time touring professionals and we feel that each one offers something unique and distinctive to make the event very special for all of us. And you will find new friends among the audience as well.
Since Rocky Top is a private home, guests are here by invitation. Most are on our email list (sign up if you are not on it already), but many guests find out about a concert in other ways and ask to be invited. That is perfectly acceptable; we are warm and friendly people, and we'll never have too many friends. This is not some exclusive club.
At each concert, everyone gets the “best seat in the house”. You won't be more than 20' from the performers and will be able to hear and to see perfectly. You will get to meet our guest performers, talk with them, and begin to know them as people, not just as stage personalities. Yes, some of their names will be familiar to you beforehand, and some will not. But all are full-time touring professionals and we feel that each one offers something unique and distinctive to make the event very special for all of us. And you will find new friends among the audience as well.
The Falls - now you see where we get the name "Rocky Top".
