Red Hook Education Rocks

Dale Stewart reports from Red Hook, N.Y.On Saturday, June 29, the Red Hook Education Foundation threw a rockin' champagne reception, complete with a raucous yet intimate performance by Amy Helm at Bard's summer-only Spiegeltent. The fundraising concert brought in more than $26,000 for the Red Hook Education Foundation, a non-profit community organization dedicated to supporting public schools in the town of Red Hook. The daughter of The Band’s Levon Helm and a leading voice behind Woodstock’s infamous Midnight Rambles, Helm (pictured left with her band the Handsome Strangers) is having a moment right now, hot off her much praised Mountain Jam show; she's also releasing her first solo record later this year. But scene stealers also came in the form of opening house band Mayday Kingdom, led by Michael McQuilken (of Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra), who loosened up the crowd with their bawdy covers ranging from 1940’s vaudeville music to an unironic version of “Just a Gigolo," providing an appropriately cabaret-like backdrop for the night's festivities.

Michelle Plattwith her son Paulo and Marla Walker; John Pelosi, Chris Vroom, and Tom Mansfield.

Audrey Peterson with Red Hook School board member Ryan McCann; pilates instructor Chelsea Streifeneder and Andrew McKenzie.

Mary-Pat Davis with Tivoli Mercantile's Jill Ter Molen-Cornillon, Rowan Willigan and Brooke Stevens.

Teachers Brittany Redmond and Annie Paccione; musician Andrew Rieser and health advocate Kari Rieser.

Noah Fischel, Dwayne Resnick, and Mark McDonald; a camera-shy Natalie Merchant with Susan Hendrickson.

Michael Kokas with farmer Ken Migliorelli; Bard's Bob Bursey and Red Hook Education Foundation President Eleanor Davis.

The Mayday Kingdom members Aaron Halva, Michael McQuilken, Crucito and David Van Witt.