Saturday, October 27 | 7PM

A Tribute: Celebrating The Magic and The Power

// Tickets start at $75 //

PERFORMANCES BY:
💞 Michael Stipe 💞 Natasha Lyonne 💞 Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman 💞 Meredith Graves 💞 Roddy Bottum 💞 Zia Anger & Annie Bielski 💞 Davon 💞 Rock Academy Rebel Girls 💞

Soiree Creative Directors Melissa Auf der Maur and Joe Mama-Nitzberg

Hosted by Aaron Dessner, Meredith Graves, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Natasha Lyonne, Ryan McGinley, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Elvis Perkins, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stipe, Brandon Stosuy, Jack Walls and Yelena Yemchuk

Basilica Hudson’s biennial Pioneering People fundraiser celebrates groundbreaking artists across a range of disciplines by hosting and honoring a one-of-a-kind person in our raw industrial church. This year’s event will celebrate the achievements and legacy of musician, songwriter, actor, performer and incomparable cultural force Courtney Love.

Through conversations, readings, video, and performance, the evening’s program will shine a light on all of the ways that Love has influenced culture and inspired women and marginalized people for almost three decades. The performances will illuminate the impact of Love’s vital and inspiring art and energy and the inspiration her work continues to instil in the next generation of artists and musicians. The evening’s performances will demonstrate the incredible power and the lasting legacy of Love’s iconic explorations and subversions of femininity, and honor her unapologetic, fearless protest of the patriarchy.

Courtney Love will be in attendance as our honored guest and will be featured in conversations, readings, and performances.

Joining Courtney Love in performances will be REM’s Michael Stipe; actor, writer and director Natasha Lyonne (Orange Is The New Black, Russian Doll); Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman, the performers behind the legendary cabaret duosome Kiki and Herb; writer and musician Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy); Faith No More’s Roddy Bottum; a performance by cousins Zia Anger & Annie Bielski; Hudson-based Southern girl Davon; and students from Woodstock music school Rock Academy Rebel Girls.

Creative directed and produced by Basilica Hudson’s Co-Founder and Director Melissa Auf der Maur (former bassist of Courtney Love’s GRAMMY-nominated, certified multi-platinum, award-winning band Hole) and artist Joe Mama-Nitzberg, who was Creative Director of Hole’s Celebrity Skin and is a longtime creative collaborator and comrade of both Love and Auf der Maur. Set design by Marc Swanson with support from Cottage Treasures.

The event will be hosted by a group of creative luminaries and friends, including Aaron Dessner, Meredith Graves, Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Natasha Lyonne, Ryan McGinley, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Elvis Perkins, Chloë Sevigny, Michael Stipe, Brandon Stosuy, Yelena Yemchuk and Jack Walls.

In the words of Melissa Auf der Maur:
“Courtney’s a Pioneer. Her legacy is vital to the voice of women in our culture. The passion she brings to her life and art fuels the long-fought battle for the empowerment of alternative voices as they take center stage at last! There’s no one as punk and fearless as Courtney, and she deserves a creative bouquet of honoring. Her power onstage is a massive force to be reckoned with. She broke new ground, combining raw and powerful rock music and lyrics of a singular feminist perspective, with her escapades as a Hollywood actress. Her legacy cannot be erased or confused by sexist or fearful critics. We are really excited to honor her, and excited to have Basilica – a building of equivalent epic scale – to host her in. To have her at Basilica, and to rally around that legacy, is very healing for me personally, as her former bass player and old friend. It feels like our journeys as women are coming full-circle in tandem with this nation’s conflicted and shocking trajectory of women’s rights and women’s rage.”

The event will take place against the raw, industrial backdrop of Basilica Hudson’s solar-powered reclaimed factory, with the spectacular Hudson River and Catskill Mountains on the horizon.

Past Pioneering People to grace our factory fundraiser were the singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright and the visionary filmmaker aka “Pope of Trash” John Waters.

This biennial special fundraising event provides crucial support for Basilica’s mission to present independent and innovative voices in arts and culture while fostering sustainable community.

Pioneering People will feature a private benefit dinner followed by the public performance. Tickets to the public event are available here. For information, tickets and table purchases for the private benefit dinner, contact Jasmine Dreame Wagner, Development Manager at jasmine@basilicahudson.org.

Pioneering People would not be possible without the generous support and like-minded spirit of partners and collaborators. In addition to the Host and Benefit Committees, and participating artists, Basilica Hudson is grateful for the support of the following friends and community partners: Hudson Guest House, Kickstarter Music, Lagunitas, Local 111, The Maker, Tiger House Hudson, Varyer, 2 Note Hudson, FACE Stockholm, SAVI, WM Farmer & Sons, Cottage Treasures, Floral Fantasies, Hudson Wine Merchants, Hudson Valley Ceremonies, Bread Alone, Hawthorne Valley Farm, Maple Leaf Sugaring, Le Perche, Samascott’s Garden Market, Talbott & Arding and
C.U.B. Foods
and special thanks to:
Ariella Chezar, Jim Krewson, Samantha Marble, Jason Marlow, Jennifer Lynn Morse, Rogue FX, Marc Swanson