Saugerties Sessions: Simi Stone with Jack Petruzzelli & Friends

After picking up the violin and writing/recording her own songs at a young age, Simi later became a staple in the New York City late night dance scene, where she found a niche making solo appearances with her electric violin set to dance music.

She was soon creating a more gritty rock and roll sound and formed the band Suffrajett, touring and playing every club under the sun from east coast to west coast , including House of Blues, Bowery Ballroom, CBGBs and Summer Stage events with Joan Jett, The Roots, and Erika Badu.

After moving back to Woodstock she hooked up with trio The Duke and the King, featuring Simone Felice, Bobby Bird and Nowell Haskins. They co- wrote the band’s second album, Long Live the Duke and the King, which garnered critical acclaim and cemented a new playing field for her in the UK and Europe. Un-Cut magazine named her “The sensational Simi Stone” and called her voice “striking” and her violin, “a thing of mournful beauty.”

In 2014 Simi went solo and she struck up a creative partnership with producer David Baron (Michael Jackson, Lenny Kravitz , Meghan Trainor and Bat for Lashes). Together with an amazing band including Zachary Alford and Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie), Gwen Stephanie (B52s), Sara Lee (Gang of Four, Indigo Girls) she recorded a series of EPs and a self-titled debut album dubbed “Mountain Motown” filled with soul, rock, pop and Motown inflections. Hudson Valley Magazine featured Simi on the cover and designated her “Best New Artist.”

More recently, Simi was guest vocalist on two of Natalie Merchant’s albums; on The New Tigerlily Recordings, and toured and recorded with The New Pornographers, Natalie Merchant, Neko Case, Conor Oberst, Gipsy Kings, Simone Felice, Amy Helm and David Byrne.

For this program Simi will be joined by Jack Petruzzelli (guitar, vocals) of the world renowned Beatles tribute ensemble The Fab Faux, Will Bryant and others tba.