Stephen Bluhm 40th Birthday Show at Avalon Lounge

Hudson Valley songwriter/showman Stephen Bluhm celebrates his 40th with a dash of chamber pop songs from his latest release Out of the Nowhere Into the Here followed by danceable synth pop favorites, often compared to David Byrne and the better sides of Morrissey.

Acclaimed by hugely influential musicians like Mike Watt and the Magnetic Fields, Out of the Nowhere features Bluhm’s dulcet baritone and piano with a lush arrangement of a dozen orchestral instruments, most played by Bard’s The Orchestra Now.

Accompanying the birthday show are Meghan Mercier on cello and Jackson Spargur on violin, as well as Andrew Stein on drums, Ethan Renner on bass, and guest Brian Dewan for the finale set.

Opening the night is a tribute to beloved Brian Wilson with covers by a who’s-who of Avalon stars: Liam Singer, Rebecca Borrer (Rager), Alex Daud (Fascinating Chimera Project), Sam Lisabeth (Samuel Boat), and Hellish Cashstrap.

‘This beautifully crafted collection of chamber pop stands out not just for its emotional depth but for its lush, detailed compositions. Bluhm is a true artist to watch. You would have to have a heart of stone to not be affected by this sublime collection.’ Post-Punk

‘Stephen Bluhm really brings it for me, makes a true believer out of me concerning music and artistic expression.’ Mike Watt

‘Quietly and beautifully stunning. The orchestrations are spare and sublime. There are wonderful lyrics throughout, and this is a deeply emotional piece of work.’ Anthony Kaczynski (The Magnetic Fields)

‘Idiosyncratic and adventurous work that manages to convey playfulness and lightness while also sounding profound and beautiful.’ Americana Highways

‘His music is immediately touching, even if there is room for existential crisis in the philosophizing songwriter’s big heart, with subject matters covering love, religion and nervous breakdowns. He is also a move-busting synthpop musician, which lucky audiences may get a glimpse of peppered into his sets.’ Times Union