NEXT SESSION:
Guest Artist:
Nick Payton
”HARVEST”
Monday, November 30th
6:30p-8:00p
ARTIST INFO BELOW!
SESSION LYRIC SHEET AVAILABLE HERE
or click image below
KINDRED SPIRITS
Monthly Music Series
Throughout history, music has inspired sorrow, outrage, and hatred, as well as love, courage, unity, and celebration. Kindred Spirits Music Series is a special opportunity to gather our community together by sharing the music that continues to weave us together - songs expressing resistance of injustice, defending our rights, and reconciling with those holding differing opinions by focusing on our similarities. Each month’s “themed” gathering includes music to reflect on, songs performed by regional musicians, and “sing-alongs” of familiar anthems that have helped us “overcome.” We are looking forward to raising our voices together!
All events are accessible, free, and open to the public.
QUESTIONS?
OurLodgeFoundation@gmail.com
or call Mark Long:
518-316-9740
LAST MONDAYS,
June thru December:
6:30p to 8:00p
Saratoga Arts, 320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
May 18 • WE ARE THE WORLD • Mary Turcich
Jun 29 • FREEDOM • Azzaam Hameed & Leo D’Juan
Jul 27 • HOME • Drank the Gold (Oona & James)
Aug 31 • REVOLUTION • Cosby Gibson & Tom Staudle
Sep 28 • PEACE • Tim Wechgelaer
Oct 26 • HARVEST • Elizabeth Conant
Nov 30 • GRATITUDE • Nicholas Payton
• • •
BIG THANKS to
SARATOGA ARTS &
the Community Arts Re-Grant Program!!
Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Nicholas Payton
“At The EQ, we believe — A world where music education is perfectly equalized, boosting every student's potential and cutting out the barriers to access.”
Monday November 30th - Kindred Spirits Session 7
Seasoned songwriter, Entertainment Industry Consultant, and Urban Music Educator, Nick Payton — also known musically as The BLK Ambition (pronounced "Black Ambition") — has worked in the music industry as an Executive Producer, Vocal Arranger, A&R Consultant, Publicist, and Journalist. He continues his passion for the arts as the Founding Music Teacher in the NY Capital Region charter school system. His grant-funded music program, The John Lewis: Good Trouble Audio Club, teaches culturally relevant music and music of the Afro-Diaspora using Industry level production techniques, as well as music theory through his suite of Music Apps.
2026 marks the first year of his non-profit, The EQuinox: Music and Tech Foundation, Inc., where he uses his music and free suite of music apps to empower youth and give them access to quality software to help pursue their "ambition" in the arts.
“I left Public Relations and A&R Consulting to make a difference. Even though I hosted music industry round tables for H.S. & College Students and worked with Roc Nation, WeWork, 313 Labs, SUNY Empire University - it wasn't enough. I needed to bring all of my connections, my network, my gift of gab to the school directly. If I wanted to be the change I wanted to see in the world, I need to provide students with the ability and knowledge to be changemakers in their own communities.” Nick Payton
You can support The BLK Ambition via:
Elizabeth Conant
Monday October 26th - Kindred Spirits Session 6
A pianist and singer-songwriter from Saratoga Springs, New York, Elizabeth has performed with dozens of groups across many genres, from sideman to frontman, duos to 20 piece big bands. Her Folk-Jazz style is often referred to as a mix of Carole and Joni, and her original songs tell stories born of the self-reflection that comes with age and experience.
Tim Wechgelaer
Monday September 28th - Kindred Spirits Session 5
Tim is a singer/songwriter who makes his home in Saratoga Springs, NY, and plays guitar, violin/fiddle, and mandolin. A beloved regional performer and Spring St. Porch Fest regular, his repertoire includes a wide variety of styles featuring Folk, Country, Classic Rock, Irish, and more!
Cosby Gibson
&
Tom Staudle
Monday August 31st - Kindred Spirits Session 4
2025 Favorite Folk Duo
NY Capital Region Listen Up Awards
2023 & 2025 Folk / Traditional Category - nominees
NY Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards
Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle are award-winning songwriters and singers and live near the Adirondacks in upstate New York. Performing for fifteen years, they tour both regionally and nationally. Together they play originals and favorites with a variety of instruments such as guitar, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, and harmonica, and in many settings such as festivals, concert series, theaters, livestreams, and community events.
Together, they are recipients of Dorn Space Arts Center Award for Music Outreach in 2019, and Listen Up Awards for Favorite Folk Duo in 2025; Saratoga Arts Mini-grant, 2024, and Saratoga Arts Community Grant, 2025. Their special historic song music programs include; Erie Canal Songs, Adirondack Lumber Camp Songs, Labor Union Songs. American Revolution Songs, Appalachian Historic Songs, and also offer “Songwriting Workshops for Everyone.”
"With guitar, violin, banjo, harmonica, ukelele and dulcimer, these high-spirited independent artists present heartfelt original acoustic folk and blues." ~ Folk Times
Drank the Gold
Monday July 27th - Kindred Spirits Session 3
2023 Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year at the NY Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards
Upstate NY-based duo of Oona Grady & James Gascoyne: soaring vocal harmonies • fiddle, guitar/banjo • Irish and American old-time tunes and songs • contemporary traditionalists
“The music of Drank The Gold is borderless, real, authentic and honest as anything I’ve heard in years. At a time when the world is kind of imploding, Oona and James play the type of music that has the capacity to bring people to their senses.” - Kevin Crawford, Lúnasa.
Azzaam Hameed
Monday June 29th - Kindred Spirits Session 2
Azzaam Hameed's musical style on the piano incorporates a tasteful blend of Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, and Gospel; with colorful accents of Latin and Brazilian overtones. Vocally, his singing style has frequently been compared with the rich baritone voice of Lou Rawls.
Leo D’Juan
Leo D’Juan is a passionate artist from Albany, NY, known for his talents in music, acting, and creative direction. Leo has been developing his skills for acting, directing and musical arrangement from a young age. Starting as a choir director at 13, he’s received many awards for his leadership and impact in the Black community. Leo has performed at many major venues, released two albums, and earned an Eddies Award nomination, but even with his many accolades, Leo considers his greatest blessing to be his son, Jeven, saying, “When God blessed me with my son, He saved my life.”
Mary Turcich
Monday May 18th - Kindred Spirits Session 1
On Thursday, April 03, 2025, over 120 old friends, new friends, activists & activated friends, friends of faith, four-legged friends, and Saratoga neighbors gathered on the stairs of Saratoga Springs City Hall, bringing their voices together for Canada’s national anthem “O’ Canada” to sing-out our LOVE & Friendship to Canada and Canadians … our northern neighbors for over 150 years! Mary Turcich arrived with her guitar and patiently led us in each round of the Canadian national anthem. It was SO fitting that she led us again in launching our new Kindred Spirits Music Series!!