Blair Mackay, artistic director and co-founder of the Hudson Music Festival (HMF), offered a preview of the concerts and special events for the 2018 edition of the Festival. The 12th edition of the HMF runs from Friday, August 3 to Saturday, Sunday August 12.

“This year’s stellar line-up brings together an incredible cast of local musicians as well as acclaimed international artists,” said Mr. Mackay. “It has always been our guiding mission to present and promote the unique cultural mix that makes Hudson the special place it is, and to provide audiences with some of the most interesting and diverse musical talents from around the world. The 12th edition of the HMF provides this to the max.”

Highlights of this year’s festival include the ultimate party band, Busty and the Bass, who combine electro-soul, R&B and hip hop into an eclectic mix. They will be performing at a new outdoor Big Top stage on the corner of Selkirk and Main on Saturday, August 4 at 8pm. On Tuesday, August 7 at the 2 Barn Owls space on Main Road, internationally renowned singer-songwriter Shawn Phillips will be the featured performer.

On Wednesday, August 8 at 8pm,  the Hudson Yacht Club will welcome Perla Batalla from California. Batalla will be presenting In the House of Cohen, an homage to Leonard Cohen, for whom she sang on two world tours. Another very special performance will take place on Monday, August 6 at 7 pm at the 2 Barn Owls space where Hudson’s own Katie Moore is the featured artist. And at the Willow Place Inn on Thursday, August 9, the Sons of Italy, a 38-piece concert band will perform outdoors on a special stage. This concert is part of the Montreal “Italian” Week celebrations.

Other featured shows include Persuasion: A Tribute to Santana on Sunday, August 5 at 8pm in the Big Top at Selkirk and Main. The Mews stage on Main Road will host a score of shows, including Cantrip, a high-energy trio from Scotland; Oliver Forest, an indie band from Montreal; Hudson-based Better Half; the Cajun Music Collective; Cathy Fried, a singer-songwriter from Montreal; a Tribute to Tom Petty performed by local musicians; and the HMF’s own Root System septet.

“We will also be presenting shows at a variety of other venues in Hudson, including the Chateau du Lac and Cunningham’s,” Mr. Mackay said.