(Photo by James Rice)
Singer, guitarist Happy Traum has been involved with the Byrdcliffe colony since he and his wife Jane first moved to Woodstock in 1967. “We rented a cottage from Peter Whitehead. Jane and I bought our land that we built our house from Peter Whitehead. Jane spent six or seven years as president of [what is now the Woodstock Byrdcliffe] Guild,” he says. “We have had several decades of involvement. We just feel so aligned to Woodstock History that we have to do everything we can to keep it healthy and driving.”
And, in order to do that, the singer, guitarist Traum will host his 19th Solstice Concert for the Guild, at 8 p.m. Saturday December 15 at the Woodstock Playhouse. His guests this year are Amy Helm, Cindy Cashdollar, John Sebastian, Eugene Ruffolo, Zach Djanikian, Byron Isaacs, Geoff Muldaur, and “maybe one or two surprise guests,” he says. “We started at the Kleinert for our first maybe 10 shows and then moved to Bearsville Theater. Now for the past four or five years been at the Woodstock Playhouse. It’s been a revolving cast of musicians. The past few years we’ve brought in out of towners, but this year it’s all locals.”
And, as always, the show is dedicated to the late Artie Traum, Happy’s brother.
“Artie was the original instigator for these shows. It’s only the last ten years we haven’t had him with us. But every Solstice show is dedicated to him.”
Tickets are $67, $47, or $27, with proceeds from the event supporting Byrdcliffe’s ongoing work as a center for the arts in the Hudson Valley. For tickets and Information see http://www.woodstockplayhouse.org/byrdcliffe-winter-solstice, or call 845-679-6900.
The Woodstock Playhouse is at 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock.
All of the Traum family has been an uplifting asset to the Woodstock community since their arrival over 50 years ago. They have stepped into the shoes of local residents and artists now passed who have made this such a remarkable cultural entity. Congratulations and thank you, Traum family, and all of our friends, living and beyond. Love certainly surrounds you!