There’s a Bright Side Somewhere: A Tribute to Happy Traum
City Winery NYC presents There’s a Bright Side Somewhere: A Tribute to Happy Traum live on Wednesday, August 5th, at 7:30 PM!
An evening celebrating the music and enduring spirit of Happy Traum — beloved musician, teacher, songwriter, and one of the great figures of the New York folk tradition.
The concert brings together an extraordinary lineup of artists and longtime friends whose paths crossed with Happy through decades of music, friendship, and the wider folk community: Larry Campbell, Tony Trischka, John Sebastian, Jimmy Vivino, Eugene Ruffolo, Lincoln Schleifer, the evening hosts, Bert Lee and Fabio Fantuzzi, plus friends and special guests.
Happy Traum was not only an extraordinary performer and collaborator — working alongside artists ranging from Bob Dylan and The Band to countless musicians of the Woodstock community — but also a teacher whose approach to music inspired generations of players.
Happy's first appearance in a recording studio was at a historic session in 1963 when a group of young folk musicians, including Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, Peter LaFarge, and The Freedom Singers gathered at Folkways Records' studio for an album connected to Broadside magazine. Happy, with his group the New World Singers, cut the first released version of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” and sang a duet with Dylan on the anti-war song “Let Me Die in My Footsteps.”
From then on, he played with dozens of music legends, ranging from John Sebastian, Eric Andersen, David Amram, Jorma Kaukonen, Allen Ginsberg, Larry Campbell, Cindy Cashdollar, Tony Trischka, Jon Sholle, Ed Sanders, Gregory Corso, Rory Block, Paul Butterfield, Maria Muldaur, and so many others that it would be impossible to name them all.
Perhaps Happy's most important and lasting musical contribution has been Homespun Tapes, which he and his wife Jane co-founded in 1967. This dynamic and still-growing company has a catalog of more than 500 music lessons, books, and educational materials distributed and sold around the globe.
What to expect? Musicians gathered together, trading songs, harmonies, and memories in an intimate in-the-round setting: from traditional folk and bluegrass roots to the Greenwich Village scene that helped shape generations of songwriters, the night celebrates the warmth, humor, and deep musicality that made Happy such a cherished presence to so many.
For one special night at City Winery, friends and fellow musicians come together to honor that legacy and keep the songs moving forward.
Reserve your preferred wine by filling out this form(opens in a new tab) and have a bottle waiting at your table when you arrive at your show. No more waiting for your first drink! We will save your wine preference and have a bottle at your table for all future shows. When you want to change your wine, come back to this form and update your preference.
🎶 While we do not require a two-item food or beverage minimum, we strongly encourage it. Most ticket revenue goes directly to the artist and production costs, so food and drink purchases help support the staff, service, and atmosphere that make these intimate shows possible.
The good news: we think you’ll love the food and wine just as much as the show.
🍷 Members get 48 hour early access to new shows, pay no ticket fees, and earn points to exchange for complimentary tickets. Vinofile Plus members also receive many wine benefits. Add a membership to your cart during checkout to start saving now. Already a member? Make sure you are signed in to access your benefits. Become a Vinofile Member and enjoy the benefits today.(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)
