In a spontaneous, almost impromptu raunchy and rowdy musical extravaganza, the Little Sparrow band migrated up from the winter for the 2026 opening of the Heartbeat Music Hall in Grahamsville on May 2. Admission was free, and also free were the cold liquid refreshments.

To say there was little publicity for the event would not be entirely accurate. There were notices on Facebook and emails and telephone calls, as well as band members Aldo Trioiani and David Dann, who are both Saturday DJs on Public Radio WJFF, with friends on Sullivan County radio stations WSUL and WVOS.

The Heartbeat Music Hall soon filled up with local musicians. After the Little Sparrow’s lively show of folk songs and country mixed with Neil Young and the Grateful Dead, other musicians came onstage and joined in. Heartbeat owner David Trestyn naturally joined in too. One musician even lugged in a tenor saxophone. Some musicians snuck over the border from Ulster County.

Little Sparrow consists of Carol Smith and Aldo Trioiani on guitar and vocals, David Dann on lead guitar and Eddie Spaghetti from Livingston Manor auditioning on drums.

Carol recalled that Little Sparrow was the first performing group when Dave and Teresa Trestyn first opened the Heartbeat Music Hall five years ago.

Aldo said the group frequently practiced at the Center for Discovery in Harris. The audience was very appreciative and receptive.

The various musicians partied and performed at this annual celebration until past 10 p.m.

Upheaval in the small coffeehouse

The times seem to be radically changing in the small band music business in the Catskills and elsewhere.

The famous musicians’ hangout, Cabernet Frank’s, which was located beneath the neatly carved mountain wall (the Route 17 Quickway exit in Parksville), with its indoor and outdoor music stages, suddenly closed down. The music and atmosphere were great.

The Red Barn in Liberty didn’t open and Hector’s Bar in Bethel, just down from Bethel Woods, is in a shroud of mystery. The Sunday afternoon open·mic and wild·jam sessions at Rafter’s in·Callicoon, across from the tracks, shut down when the building was sold. I remember the final Sunday farewell concert continued until close to midnight.

In fairness, the Sunday morning 11 a.m. open mics at DiFilippis Bakery in Monticello are still going strong after about nine continuous years. Along·with the music, you can buy fresh rolls, bagels, cookies, cakes and breakfast.

While many of the local distilleries have shut down, there are still distilleries featuring weekend music in the Roscoe area.

Finally, there are open mics on the first Monday of each month at Dutch’s Restaurant and Bar in Rock Hill, hosted by Steve’s Music Center Band.

Local musicians hunger to play

As the warm, beautiful weather arrives, the musicians are all limbered up and ready to go.

There are many talented musicians ready, willing and anxious to play for private parties or events.

For example, some of the recommended local musicians are Little Sparrow; Grahamsville’s one-man orchestra, Albi Beluli; the multi-talented Paul Kean and Debbie Fisher; the outrageous and risqué Johnny Jules Is a Thief band with Bobby d’Allesandro; and the Steve’s Music Center band, the Search and Rescue Orchestra, Lake Street, Regine with Steve Michaels, and the Marks Brothers.

We would be remiss not to mention the operas in Lake Huntington or the weekly music box in Callicoon Center. Of course, we cannot forget Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel.

Let’s look forward to a musical summer in the Catskills.

William A. Brenner, Esq., lives in Grahamsville, NY.