New Year, inspiring new season at Oswego Music Hall

By Janet Gramza

OSWEGO – The new concert season at Oswego Music Hall offers a lot to look forward to, including a lineup of acclaimed folk artists, returning favorites and a nod to performers whose lives and lyrics support social justice at a time when that takes some courage.

The Music Hall’s Winter-Spring 2026 season of Saturday concerts kicks off January 10 with local favorite Mark Wahl opening for Joe Crookston, a veteran Folk Alliance International artist-in-residence who has played with the likes of Suzanne Vega and the late Gordon Lightfoot. There will be a Meet & Greet reception at 6:30 p.m. before the show to welcome the new year.

Another seven shows scheduled January through April include several back by popular demand.

Binghamton-based Driftwood, a hugely popular five-member band with a national reputation, will rock the music hall January 24. Soulful singer-songwriter/guitarist Crys Matthews, a master of protest songs, will perform a Black History Month concert with Canadian roots artist Julian Taylor on February 21. And The Honey Badgers, a married duo from Delaware, will bring back their guitar, fiddle and vocal harmonies to a team-up with The Rough & Tumble on April 11.

Oswego Music Hall Artistic Director Tom Lambert – a volunteer entering his fourth season curating acts for the café-style non-profit venue on Lake Ontario – has traveled to several folk music conferences and caught shows by potential performers around the Northeast to find bands that fit the Music Hall’s bill of world-class music on a small-city stage for an affordable fee.

“We have a great lineup that is so exciting and so reasonable,” Lambert said. “To be able to pay $20 to see a national performance in an intimate setting with cabaret-style seating is a pretty incredible experience.”

The music hall, located in the McCrobie Civic Center on Lake Street in Oswego next to Breitbeck Park, has four-person candlelit tables in a listening room setting with a capacity of 200 people. An all-volunteer staff offers homemade goodies, $1 bags of popcorn and beverages for sale, with students and families welcome. The shows start by 7:30 p.m., sometimes with a 20-minute opening act followed by two 45-minute sets from the headliner.

The season finale on May 9 is an Emerging Artist Showcase of more local performers that’s only $15 per ticket and free for Music Hall members. Memberships range from $15 for a starving artist, $40 for a family and $50 for a supporting member. Member perks include being the first to know about upcoming events and free entry to the season finale and “the joy of supporting an organization that promotes live acoustic music,” Lambert said.

Besides continuing its Black History and Women in Music themed concerts, the Music Hall has added a 2X2 Partner series that pairs two bands or artists who complement each other to each play a set and then collaborate on a third set together, Lambert said.

This season’s 2X2 teams returning darlings The Honey Badgers with The Rough & Tumble, also a married duo who describe their music as “dumpster-folk and thrift-store Americana.”

“The Honey Badgers recorded on The Rough & Tumble’s latest album and they’ve been doing shows together,” Lambert said. “So although our partner series allows them to play separate sets, they already know they want to play together.”

“We’re also really excited to be continuing our collaboration with Pink Rock Culture Co-Op for the Third Annual Women In Music show with Amanda Rogers opening for The Rebel Eves,” Lambert said. “Amanda has done an excellent job bringing a new non-profit music venue to Syracuse and it’s fun to be able to partner with her in presenting this show.”

Here’s a rundown of the full lineup. (*means likely to sell out)

January 10 – Joe Crookston, with Mark Wahl opening, New Year’s reception at 6:30 p.m.

January 24 – Binghamton-based, nationally acclaimed band Driftwood.*

February 7 – Cliff Eberhardt accompanied by Louise Coombe, NYC folk veteran accompanied by Nashville-area bluegrass singer.

February 21 – Black History Month co-bill with Crys Matthews and Julian Taylor.*

March 7 – Third Annual Women in Music Show with The Rebel Eves “sister-powered” trio, opened by Amanda Rogers of Syracuse’s Pink Rock Culture Co-Op.

March 21 – Nashville singer-songwriter Liz Longley with two-time Syracuse Area Music Awards Winner Cam Caruso opening.*

April 11 – 2X2 Partner Series, The Honey Badgers team up with The Rough & Tumble.

April 25 — An Evening with Tom Rush accompanied by Brenden Cleary, American folk/blues legend who helped popularize Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor.*

May 9 – Season Finale: Emerging Artist Showcase with headliner to be announced soon.

Tickets include a $195 season pass for all shows or $17 to $40 per show and $15 for the season finale.

Besides these National Stage shows, the Music Hall will present Friday night Open Mic sessions, Guest Curator shows and Jazz-By-The-Lake performances. Info and tickets are at www.oswegomusichall.org

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