The John Brown Farm State Historic Site will be the scene of live Blues music and living history performances on Friday, September 13, through Sunday, September 15, 2024, all against the backdrop of “Beacon of Hope,” a towering sculpture of Harriet Tubman by artist Wesley Wofford.
After rave reviews for her performance last year, Charmaine Crowell-White returns to perform her one-woman show, “Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People.” Through energetic storytelling, Crowell-White offers a close look into the life and achievements of a selfemancipated American woman, born into slavery, whose courage, determination and dedication to family, community and country are exemplar in our nation’s history.
She will give two 45-minute performances for student audiences, grades 4-12, on Friday at 10am and 12 noon. She will perform again on Saturday afternoon, at 2pm, for a general audience.
All performances are free and will be held outdoors at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, 115 John Brown Road in Lake Placid. A Q&A and picture-taking session with Crowell-White and the Tubman statue will follow each performance. Reservations are necessary for the daytime shows for students and must be made at info@johnbrownlives.org by September 11.
Ninth Annual Blues at Timbuctoo
On Sunday, September 15, John Brown Lives! and Grand Adirondack Hotel team up again to present the ninth annual Blues at Timbuctoo (BT2) concert and conversation at the John Brown Farm, from 12-5pm
The daylong festival treats music lovers to internationally renowned Blues performers and also showcases local and regional talent coming together at the home and gravesite of abolitionist John Brown in a spirit of community and embracing our shared humanity.
Jerry Dugger returns from New Orleans with the Harlem Blues Band featuring songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joe Flood and Mark Horn on guitar, banjo and occasional vocals.
“King of the Keys” and five-time Blues Music Award nominee Dave Keyes will also be back this year.
New to BT2 but not the Adirondacks, Colette Pastore will front the Mountain Gators Band with original songs and emotionally charged vocals accompanied by Steve Pastore and Chris Bernd on guitar, Bill “mOOn” on drums, and J Comb on bass.
The Blackburn Brothers will make their first BT2 appearance. Fourth-generation Canadians, this veritable band of brothers who descended from freedom seekers who traveled the Underground Railroad to settle as free people in Southern Ontario will feature Duane on lead vocals, piano and organ, Brook and Robert on guitar and vocals, and Cory on drums and harmony vocals.
“One can’t help but wonder if their ancestors crossed paths with Harriet Tubman on one her many courageous journeys into Canada or with John Brown” said Martha Swan, Executive Director of the freedom education and human rights project John Brown Lives!
“All are invited to come hear—and feel—the power of music so deeply rooted in the history and heritage of Black America.”
Blues at Timbuctoo is free and open to all. There will be no concessions on site, so people are encouraged to pack-in and pack-out a lunch, bring a chair or blanket, and dress for the weather.
The historic farmhouse, gravesite and exhibitions in the lower barn about John Brown will be open from 10am-5pm. A StoryWalk® of the picture book, “Before She Was Harriet” by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome, and the “Beacon of Hope” Tubman statue will still be on display at the Farm for all to enjoy.
These opportunities are made possible with support from the Lake Placid Public Library, North Elba LEAF, Stewart’s / Dake Family Foundation, Humanities New York, Essex County Arts Council, and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
For information, contact John Brown Lives! at info@johnbrownlives.org or send a text to 518744-7112.