Co-Sponsored by the Bitter End

This program is part of Village Preservation’s Semiquincentennial series of programs celebrating our Revolutionary Village. Revolutionary Village not only celebrates the founding of our country, but the exceptional role our neighborhoods played in its development and the realization of its ideals over the last 250 years and beyond.

Village Preservation is pleased to partner with musician and author Richard Barone for his revitalized new series, “Village Nights, coming to the Bitter End nightclub with four unique events in 2026. Each event will focus on a specific decade of the Village’s musical history, featuring legendary musical guests and panel discussions with noted journalists, authors, and historians.

Part of The Bitter End’s 65th Anniversary celebration, these events promise to be as educational and informative as they will be entertaining. “Village Nights” is also part of Village Preservation’s yearlong “Revolutionary Village” series in 2026, which celebrates the contributions that Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo made to American history in the course of the nation’s 250 years. 

New York audiences will soon have the rare opportunity to experience Carolyn Hester, the legendary folk singer whose luminous voice and trailblazing spirit helped define the American folk revival of the early 1960s. Born in Waco, Texas, Hester emerged as a distinctive voice in folk music with her debut album in 1957, produced by Norman Petty, and quickly gained recognition for her evocative interpretations of traditional songs such as “The House of the Rising Sun” and “She Moved Through the Fair.”

Hester became a central figure in the vibrant Greenwich Village scene, helping launch Gerde’s Folk City and earning the moniker “The Texas Songbird” for her striking vocal clarity and impassioned performances. Critics and fellow musicians alike have long recognized Hester’s impact. Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times praised her as “one of the originals—one of the small but determined gang of ragtag, early‑’60s folk singers” whose music carried the conviction to change the world.

Hester also played a key role in shaping the career of an emerging young artist named Bob Dylan. During the recording of her third album for Columbia Records in 1961, she invited Dylan to participate in what became his first official studio session—an encounter that led producer John Hammond to sign him to the label.

Throughout her career, Hester has been known not only for her artistic prowess but also for her fierce integrity. She famously helped lead the boycott of the TV program Hootenanny after Pete Seeger was blacklisted, cementing her standing as a politically engaged and principled figure in the folk community.

Now, as she returns to New York—the city where her artistic journey took flight—audience members can expect an evening that bridges past and present. Hester’s music remains a living thread connecting the roots of American folk to its enduring legacy.

Don’t miss this rare chance to witness a true pioneer whose voice helped shape a generation and continues to inspire artists and audiences around the world.

Learn more and buy tickets for the other Village Nights programs HERE.