Jandek, one of the most mysterious and hyper-productive legends of the lo-fi folk/outsider music movement, is slated to make a rare appearance at one of the Hudson Valley’s most unique performance venues, Widow Jane Mine, on Saturday, July 20 at 7 pm.
The recently-formed PlayTime Presents is producing the event. According to its founder, Jeff Economy, PlayTime is “an evolving entity dedicated to presenting unlikely music, film and media events in New York’s Hudson Valley.” PlayTime’s most recent event was a fundraiser for local radio institution WGXC-90.7/Wave Farm featuring a collaboration between the famed “culture jammers” Negativland and video artist Sue-C at the Greenville Drive-In.
Jandek is the musical project of Sterling Smith and his Corwood Industries, a record label operating out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek/Corwood Industries has independently released over 125 albums/DVDs of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk, rock, and blues songs without ever granting an interview or providing any biographical information. Jandek often plays a highly idiosyncratic and frequently atonal form of folk, rock, classical and blues music, at times using an open and unconventional chord structure. The name “Jandek” refers specifically to the musical project. www.corwoodindustries.com
“As a documentarian, writer, music video maker and occasional performer, I’ve had one foot planted in the music world since the late ‘80s,” says PlayTime’s Jeff Economy. “Part of my agenda with PlayTime is to give something back by putting on events that might not have happened otherwise.
“Despite being an active recording artist since at least 1978, Jandek remains one of the most intriguing and mysterious figures in all of music,” continues Economy. “They’ve been performing in public sporadically since 2004, but it seemed that a local show was a remote possibility at best. I extended an invitation knowing that a great venue was available and to my surprise, they accepted. With Jandek’s spectacularly wide range of music and Widow Jane’s unique space, this event is a perfect representation of our creative mission.”
Widow Jane Mine is a circa 19th-century natural cement mine housed on the 22-acre Snyder Estate in Rosendale, N.Y. The cavernous room and pillar construction create a natural amphitheater, one with amazing acoustics and unobstructed views due to the sloping floors. Audiences of up to 500 face the stage with a pond as a backdrop and light filtering in from four openings to the outside. The venue, which has presented music, theater, raves, poetry readings and other events for over 40 years, is managed by the Century House Historical Society a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation of the local history of Rosendale, New York and of the Natural Cement industry.
For tickets, visit widowjanemine.ticketspice.com/Jandek24 or www.playtimepresents.com
The post Elusive Lo-Fi Legend Jandek to Appear at Rosendale’s Widow Jane Mine appeared first on NYS Music.
