Hope Rocks Christmas
Streaming Live on Facebook

Hope Rocks Events, a Hudson Valley (NY) based organization supporting the mental health and addiction community, is hosting “Hope Rocks Christmas” an online music event featuring legendary percussionist Jerry Marotta and 2015 Grammy Winner Mike Farris at Marotta’s Dreamland Recording Studios in West Hurley, NY.

“Covid continues to create obstacles, but we will keep hope alive during the holidays,” said Joe Defino, Founder and Executive Director of Hope Rocks.   “We are proud of our association with Mike Farris and Jerry Marotta and are thankful for their willingness to join in the merriment. They are such giants in their craft and their willingness to serve others with it is humbling.”

Since 2016, Hope Rocks has been working in response to the epidemic of death caused by overdose and suicide.  In late 2019, it established corporate not-for-profit status as a fully accredited 501c3 organization.  It has grown to gain national recognition with its programs, events and outreach activities.

Mike Farris, who lived in the Woodstock area during the late 1990’s and 2000’s, is coming from his home in Nashville, TN for this show.  This will be his first time at Marotta’s Studio. “We usually come up to New York every year around Christmastime. I am hearing great things about this place and it’s going to be really amazing,” he said.

Woodstock native Jerry Marotta, considered by many to be one of the world’s best percussionists and who has played with Orleans, Hall and Oates, Indigo Girls, among many others, rose to fame as part of Peter Gabriel’s legendary band from 1977-1986.  He continues to tour with many different projects and works with recording artists at his studio, a converted church, called Dreamland Studio.  Dreamland has a rich history of its own recording legends such as Joe Jackson, Pat Metheny, 10,000 Maniacs, B-52’s, Lake Street Dive, Herbie Hancock and many others.

“I’m so excited to be a part of any Hope Rocks event. We’re especially excited at Dreamland Studios to be hosting the upcoming Hope Rocks Christmas event,” said Marotta.  Jerry is eager to see how this event evolves. If it goes well, it could return to Dreamland in the future.

This is the fourth year for this event, which is produced by Hope Rocks to bring Christmas cheer to the region and Farris’ second consecutive year as the main attraction. Since the Covid pandemic has hit, Hope Rocks, like every organization and group, has had to modify the methods for  reaching audiences.  “We have found ourselves doing things we had never done before in the area of live streaming and video production,” explained Defino.  “We are ready to bring a multi-camera production with prerecorded feature segments on Mike and Jerry and the famed Dreamland studios,” he added. “Christmas is a special time, but it is also a difficult time for so many.  We want to help lighten the load and share the power of hope through this event.”

Though Farris is not the first Grammy winner to perform at Dreamland, Marotta thinks Mike is perfect for this show.  “I couldn’t find a better performer for this show than Mike Farris.”

Farris is a person in long-term recovery and uses his music and personal journey to help others who are struggling. “This is my heart. The music is great, but this is where my heart is,” said Farris.

The livestream will be free for all and can be accessed on the Hope Rocks Facebook page and website.