A Concert to Remember

As we began brainstorming activities for our Summer 2023 trip, Liberty suggested we see a live concert. For a dad who enjoys live music, I was excited by the idea. It quickly became a project for me to find the right show that all of us would enjoy.  

I am usually more of a seize-the-day-kind-of person. But, that is not the way to approach seeing a live concert, especially while on a trip. This is high risk as it would be the first time we all went to see a concert together. I wanted it to be a performance that we would all remember.

My first step was identifying potential venues in the region. I already had a few in mind, but some Internet digging helped expand the list. I narrowed it down to four possibilities:

·      The Barn in Woodstock, New York, where I had seen a fantastic show before and appreciated the intimate setting.

·      Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, which looked very fun and laid-back right on the shore of Lake Champlain.

·      The Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York, which is a large amphitheater known for a variety of concerts. It is also the summer home of the New York City Ballet, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

·      Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York, which is located on the site of the original Woodstock concert in 1969.

Then came the real challenge: finding an artist who would appeal to all of us. At the time, Cade was really into Lord Huron and Noah Kahan. Liberty was deep into Taylor Swift. For me, I just did not want it to be a one-hit wonder.

Unfortunately, Noah Kahan’s shows in Burlington were already sold out. Counting Crows did not line up with our schedule. I considered The Chicks, Goo Goo Dolls, Gregory Alan Isakov, and the Steve Miller Band, but none felt quite right for both Cade and Liberty.

Then I saw that James Taylor & His All Star Band would be performing at Bethel Woods for June 29^th.  That checked a lot of boxes for me. My dad had James Taylor’s Greatest Hits album on cassette, and “Fire and Rain” has always been one of my favorites.  I got the kids on board with interesting facts like he was from Massachusetts, he was the first non-British act signed by the Beatles’ Apple Records, and that Taylor Swift was named after James Taylor. More importantly, he has a reputation for being very authentic and kind with all those he meets.

I bought the tickets in April.

By late June, we had split our time between Belfast, ME and southern Vermont.  I had booked the concert tickets early but had waited too long to find a place to stay. We ended up finding a place in Livingston Manor, about 20 miles north. That gave us the opportunity to explore more of the Catskills. We even got to see a black bear cross the road in front of us. It was the first time Cade and Liberty had seen one in the wild.

We arrived at Bethel Woods with plenty of time.  Like many venues, parking directions were unclear, so we followed the line of vehicles and hoped for the best. The concert stage is not on the original Woodstock site, but sitting on the lawn still felt special. During the show, Taylor mentioned the history and how much it meant to him, which gave the moment event more meaning.

I had told the kids before we arrived that if at any point they were not feeling it, we could leave. Just being there with them was enough for me. But I was nervous, would they enjoy the show I had chosen?

James Taylor on the stage at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on June 29, 2023.

There was no opening act. Just James Taylor & His All Star Band coming onto the stage and getting right into it.  That made it feel even more intimate and special to me. He sang hit after hit, sharing anecdotes from his career.  Though he was battling a summer cold, his spirit and energy carried the evening. His band included Blue Lou Marini from the Blues Brothers Band and his son, Henry Taylor.

Cade and Liberty were clapping, cheering, and smiling. A few times I leaned over to check in and ask them if they wanted to leave. They said they wanted to stay. Watching them out of the corner of my eye, I could see the joy on their faces. The longer we stayed, the more it felt like we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

The concert ended with a duet with James Taylor singing “You Can Close Your Eyes” with his son, Henry. As they sang the song, I looked over at my kids and felt very emotional. I was watching a father and son share the stage, while I shared an unforgettable moment with my children. I knew, I would never forget that evening.