hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
8:53 pm, Thursday, December 12, 2024
temperature icon 28°F
Humidity 52 %
Wind Gust: 11 mph

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER





Revival folk festival honoring Old Vienna Kaffeehaus set for August in Hopkinton

by | Jul 29, 2024 | Featured, Featured: Features

Old Vienna Koffeehaus

MetroWest’s historic folk scene comes alive again this August with a festival that’s one of a kind.

On Aug. 17, Touchable Stories will be sponsoring a free revival folk festival in Hopkinton honoring the Old Vienna Kaffeehaus. Billed as a “nostalgic journey” through the venue’s history, the event will feature more than a dozen artists and special guests.

“This is a first of its kind event,” said singer/songwriter Barbara Kessler, a Hopkinton resident and host of the event. “It’s been over 25 years since the club closed.”

Notable performers in the lineup include Jim Infantino, Peter Mulvey and Grammy-winning country songwriter Lori McKenna.

Kessler will perform a set of her own during the festival, as will her daughter, Emilia Ali.

Ali is an EDM (electronic dance music) and pop musician who grew up in Hopkinton and graduated from Berklee College of Music. She has performed at Lollapalooza and SXSW (South by Southwest festival), and has more than 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

The festival will run from 1-9 p.m. and feature special guests introducing each act. The event is being held at a private location in town, so attendees are asked to reserve tickets online ahead of time (via 0830club.com/ovk), at which point they will be provided the location. There is no cost to attend, but donations are encouraged.

Kessler and other local musicians got their start at OVK, which first opened its doors in 1986. The club was upstairs from the Old Vienna Restaurant, an Austro-Hungarian eatery that once stood on South Street in Westborough.

Newcomers, established local acts and internationally known musicians and artists performed at the 125-seat club for a decade. Headliners included big names like Kris Kristofferson, Arlo Guthrie, Gil Scott-Heron and others.

“My first gig there was opening up for Livingston Taylor,” said Kessler.

OVK’s famed open mic nights drew now well-established folk and singer/songwriter acts like Dar Williams, Martin Sexton and Ellis Paul.

The owners decided to close the club in 1996. Its impact, however, lives on. 

“People still remember the days there,” said Kessler. “It was a nationally known place, but it was a treasure for local singer/songwriter acts.”

2 Comments

  1. edward young

    Forgot to mention Johnathan Edwards played there.Just himself,put on a great show.Some artists make it look easy.

  2. Janice Plumb

    I am a Hopkinton resident and missed being able to go to this as I just found out about it. Was it videoed and if it was, can it be seen on HCAM?

Related Articles

Hopkinton Trails Club looks forward as it celebrates 20 years

Not a lot of clubs can boast about being around for 20 years. Far fewer can hold that distinction with as loose a structure as the Hopkinton Trails Club. “I’m impressed it’s gone on this long, considering how informal we are,” said John Ritz, co-chair of the...

Hopkinton Trails Club

Photos: Holiday Stroll

The annual Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll took place on Saturday. The event included carriage rides, caroling on the Town Common by the Girl Scouts, the town tree lighting and a holiday marketplace.

Holiday stroll 2024

Independent Thoughts: Faith Church members provide help for holidays

As we head into the holiday season, there are reminders that not everyone has the means to celebrate the same way. But thanks to Faith Community Church’s Families Helping Families program and Project Just Because, some 600 children in the area will enjoy donated...

Project Just Because

Photos: SACH GlamJam Diwali Gala at HCA

The South Asian Circle of Hopkinton held its GlamJam Diwali Gala at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts on Saturday. The event, co-funded by Mass Cultural Council, included an interactive performance from Boston Bhangra, Bollywood music and dance and a buffet dinner.

SACH GlamJam Diwali gala

Independent Thoughts: Library welcomes language learners

Traditionally, libraries have been known as places where talking is discouraged. Not so at the Hopkinton Public Library, where individuals from all over the world are having healthy discussions. The library has been hosting an English Language Learners program,...

Hopkinton Library sign

BoMain Slice of Hopkinton photo contest winner, Nov. 13 edition

The Hopkinton Independent presents “A Slice of Hopkinton” photo contest, sponsored by BoMain. Readers are encouraged to submit photos of people, places or things in Hopkinton. The Independent staff will select one winner for each issue. The winner will have their...

Photo contest winner
Key Storage 4.14.22