Porch Concerts in Newburgh Bring the Joy

One of the great things about living in Newburgh has been the free “Porch Concerts” that Kathy Lawrence performed all summer on Sunday evenings. To cheer us all up during the most stressful year anyone can remember, Kathy brought her musical talents (and her mic and electronic piano) out onto her porch here on Bayview Terrace. She sang requests from the audience as well as her own favorites from the American Songbook. Though ballads are her specialty, she can rock with the best of ‘em, croon songs from the early days of radio and belt out hits from Broadway musicals of all decades. She can pivot to novelty tunes too, to satisfy some of us goofier listeners. Between numbers, she shares her phenomenal knowlege about composers and lyricists. Neighbors near and far came to sit on “the Bluff” across the street from her house and enjoy her strong and agile soprano voice. She is a delightful entertainer who further endears herself to her loyal fans by interacting with them frequently. Her sweet mom, Carol, is similarly gifted, and often joined Kathy on harmony. The audience brought picnic blankets or lawn chairs. Some of us busted out some wine or tea (or, in the case of at least one young music-lover, some teething biscuits).

At the top of the Heights, with the river and the hills behind us and the wonderful music before us, Kathy’s Porch Concerts have given us all a wonderful respite from our woes. Let’s hope she’ll do it again next year, no matter what’s going on in our country and the world.

Kathy Lawrence of Newburgh, an AirBnb Superhost, is also a super singer.

Kathy takes requests during her last Porch Concert of the year on Oct. 4. If it’s a song from the American Songbook you want to hear, chances are she’ll just happen to have the sheet music for it.