“When the September sun shines on the farm, it’s the most beautiful place in the world,” said Oldtone Festival organizer Jim Wright. From Sept. 4 to 7, more than 90 musicians and 25 bands presenting traditional forms of music will converge on Cool Whisper Farm in North Hillsdale for the 29th annual Oldtone Music Festival, four days of music, culture, and a way of life that endures with stubborn joy in a rapidly changing world.
The whole glorious range of American roots music will be on display, from Cajun to swing, from Latin music to bluegrass, and of course country music, brass bands, and folk. Organizers expect a bigger turnout than the 1,200 who attended last year.
Key to the festival’s success has been a remarkable collaboration between local organizers and Lisa and Matt Schober, who own Cool Whisper Farm. In 1992, when the Schobers heard that Oldtone had lost its home, they contacted the festival organizers and invited them to move the festival to their hilltop, which features spectacular 360-degree views of fields and forests. It’s been there ever since.
What distinguishes Oldtone from other roots music festivals is its durable sense of community. “The advantage of a relatively small festival is easy access to the musicians and a whole lot of picking parties,” said Wright. “Artists and audience members want to interact socially. This friendliness is something genuine that the big festivals have lost.
“We have a lower budget than most festivals, so musicians really have to want to come here. But once they come here, they seem to always want to come back.” Familiar faces abound in the 2025 lineup. “Yeah, we have some repeat offenders,” said Wright.
Oldtone’s slogan is “preservation through participation.” The festival website identifies its mission as preserving “roots music and traditional folkways through artist and audience participation, connecting neighbors, bridging cultures, and sharing insight and wisdom across generations.”
One increasingly rare musical treat is Cajun music, a raw, infectious musical genre first introduced to Louisiana by 18th century French-Canadian settlers and spiced over the centuries by everything from German accordions to African percussive rhythms. “Unfortunately, it’s a dying art form,” said Wright. “We felt if we combine Cajun music with other musical genres we could introduce more people to this amazing American music.” Cajun music is represented this year by Jourdan Thibodaux, a master fiddler from Lafayette, La., and the foot-stomping accordionist Jesse Lege & the Bayou Brew.
First-time acts at Oldtone include Mama’s Broke, a Canadian folk duo that recently notched 250,000 views for their NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
Local bands will be amply represented. Wright pointed out that Pine Plains and surrounding towns boast an impressive number of musicians. “I’d estimate there are about 30 pickers in the Pine Plains area alone,” he said. “That’s a lot for a small town. These folks come to the Oldtone festival, hear the music, and eventually pick up an instrument.” Many hone their talents at Pine Plains’ Back Bar Beer Garden, he said.
I’d estimate there are about 30 pickers in the Pine Plains area alone. That’s a lot for a small town.
Jim Wright
Though widely celebrated as an artistic success, the festival has struggled financially. That it has survived so long is a testament to community, friendship, and hard work. “Right after COVID was a hard time for us,” said Wright. The festival struggled for a year, but then a remarkable thing happened. Neighbors and friends from surrounding towns came forward. “We exist thanks to the generosity of volunteers and sponsors and musicians willing to work for less than they might usually earn,” Wright said.
This year, Oldtone received nonprofit status. “We still have a long way to go to reach financial stability and apply for state and foundation grants,” said Wright. “Getting nonprofit status is a great start.”
Oldtone may be small but there’s plenty of attention to detail. For children, there is a badminton court with a 2-foot high net and plenty of shared toys. For adults there’s beer from the Roe Jan brewery. As every year, the festival features a sizable dance tent where a roster of bands serve up live music and instruction in traditional dance styles. There’s also a workshop tent where musicians can get to know one another and hone their skills.
Many of the people running the show are from the Pine Plains area. “It’s a great team,” said Wright. “They make sure everything works and we can feed everyone.” The first chords ring out on Thursday.
For more information and tickets, visit www.oldtone.org. You can also buy tickets onsite.