funky ppl press

Sammy Rae and The Friends brought plenty of joy up to Ulster Performing Arts Center. With a focus on community-building, friendship, and positivity, Sammy Rae and The Friends ignited the night through a joyful, interactive live show.

Starting with iconic Drag Queen Pattie Gonia, Kingston NY was greeted with an electric set. As an opener, Pattie Gonia prepped the crowd for a night of pure fun and belonging. Equal parts activist, environmentalist, and performer, they stunned with killer vocals, iconic moves, and inspirational storytelling.

Headliners Sammy Rae and The Friends, who performed at Terminal 5 the night prior, brought the energy of a city show upstate. Sammy Rae, originally from Connecticut, and the Friends, who joined the band after meeting in NYC, were especially excited to come up to the Hudson Valley. They have recorded at studios in the Catskills Mountains during a two-week residency, as well as partnering with Radio Woodstock for their “Homegrown” program. The band’s soul, jazz, and indie-pop sound heavily corresponds with the Woodstock music scene. Upstate fans were treated to an intimate show, enjoying the night with the local Kingston community.

Opener: Pattie Gonia

Sammy Rae and The Friends