There is something magical about a summer afternoon in Hammondsport.
The shade trees in Pulteney Square. Children laughing. Friends catching up on park benches. The gentle breeze drifting in from Keuka Lake. Add extraordinary live music, and you've got the perfect recipe for a Sunday well spent.
This Sunday, August 2 at 1:00 PM, Hammondsport has the privilege of welcoming the acclaimed seven-piece ensemble Ruckus Early Music for their debut performance in our village as they present The Edinburgh Rollick. What better way to introduce them than with the warmth and hospitality our little corner of New York is known for?
If you've never experienced Ruckus, you're in for something truly special.
Described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as "the world's only period-instrument rock band," this New York City-based ensemble blends the rich sounds of historical instruments—including violin, guitars, keyboards, cello, bassoon, and bass—with the spirit of American roots music. The result is a sound that is both centuries old and wonderfully fresh.
Critics have taken notice. The New York Times praised the group's performances as "a fizzing, daring display of personality and imagination," while audiences have fallen in love with their playful, adventurous style that brings early music vividly to life.
Their newest program, The Edinburgh Rollick, breathes new life into the spirited tunes of legendary 18th-century Scottish composer Neil Gow. Imagine soaring violin melodies, infectious rhythms, rich harmonies, and toe-tapping tunes that have traveled across centuries—and across the Atlantic—to find their way to one of America's Coolest Small Towns.
But as I learned more about Ruckus, one question kept coming to mind...
Why Hammondsport?
So I asked.
Clay Zeller-Townson, founder and Artistic Director of Ruckus, is based between Vermont and New York City. While the ensemble performs at renowned venues across the country, Hammondsport has quietly become one of the places he enjoys returning to.
"I have a friend in Hammondsport and have visited here before," Clay told me. "I love the small-town, casual feel I get when I visit. Having a friend in Hammondsport and getting to spend time with him is a bonus, so it just felt like the perfect fit."
Honestly, I couldn't think of a better compliment.
Those of us fortunate enough to call the Keuka Lake region home sometimes forget what visitors notice first. They see neighbors chatting on street corners, people waving as they pass by, locally owned shops where you're greeted by name, and a community that still believes slowing down isn't a weakness—it's a way of life.
That's what Clay experienced.
And this Sunday, we have the opportunity to show the entire Ruckus ensemble exactly why so many people fall in love with this little village tucked at the southern tip of our crooked lake.
Whether you're a lifelong classical music enthusiast, someone who enjoys Celtic and Scottish music, or simply looking for a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, this free concert promises to be an experience unlike any other.
Event Details
🎻 Ruckus presents: The Edinburgh Rollick
📅 Sunday, August 2
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Pulteney Square, Hammondsport
💲 Free Admission
Bring a lawn chair or your favorite blanket, settle beneath the shade trees, and enjoy an afternoon of remarkable music in the heart of Hammondsport.
☔ If Mother Nature decides to make an appearance, the concert will move indoors to the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, so the music will continue rain or shine.
This special performance is made possible through the support of the New York State Council on the Arts, along with the New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul, helping bring exceptional arts programming to communities like ours.
A Keuka Roots Welcome
One of the greatest joys of living in the Finger Lakes is welcoming people who come to share their gifts with our community. Whether they're artists, musicians, authors, or visitors discovering Keuka Lake for the very first time, we have an opportunity to make them feel at home.
So let's fill Pulteney Square.
I know we can give Clay Zeller-Townson and the rest of the talented musicians of Ruckus the warm Finger Lakes welcome Clay’s already come to appreciate.
Whether you're coming from Penn Yan, Branchport, Bath, Wayne, Urbana, or just around the corner, bring a friend and spend your Sunday afternoon surrounded by music, sunshine—or even a little rain—the beauty of Keuka Lake, and the community spirit that makes Hammondsport so special.
To everyone in Ruckus making your Hammondsport debut...
Welcome to Keuka Lake.
May this be the first of many visits.
We'll save you a seat beneath the trees...or, if the skies have other plans, inside the Finger Lakes Boating Museum.
Stay Rooted. Stay Keuka.™ 🌿💙
Learn More About Ruckus Early Music
Want to hear more before Sunday's performance?
🎻 Visit the official Ruckus Early Music website to learn more about the ensemble, explore their projects, and listen to their music:
www.ruckusearlymusic.org
👍 Follow Ruckus Early Music on Facebook for updates, videos, and behind-the-scenes news:
facebook.com/oldtimeruckus
Then come experience them live as they make their Hammondsport debut this Sunday. Let's give Clay Zeller-Townson and the entire Ruckus ensemble the warm Keuka Lake welcome they deserve.
