The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

In a perfect end to the recent holiday weekend, the Town of Neversink Parks and Recreation Department offered what’s become known locally as a “Free Albi Concert.”

Free ice cream, and nominally priced hot dogs and soda accompanied music by local talent Albi Beluli and his friend and fellow musician, Ulster County resident John Steffens. 

Beluli has been playing guitar for the past 16 years, and has been interested in music his whole life. The talented self-taught musician, singer (and actor) enjoys playing for his friends and neighbors. “It’s nice, it’s good people. I know everybody, everybody knows me. It’s a beautiful area, the weather is always nice. There’s good energy.”

Attendees brought lawn chairs and blankets, and were treated to three hours of music ranging from John Denver’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane” to Beatles songs and The Animals “House of the Rising Sun” to the full-version of Don McLean’s “American Pie.”

For his part, Steffens has been playing piano since he was about 8 years old. Also self-taught – other than a few lessons in classical piano – he’s been performing with Beluli for around 10 years. The two met when Steffens went to visit a friend at SUNY Fredonia, the college Beluli was attending. “I knew we were destined to play together,” said Steffens, ”And now Albi and I are much better friends than the guy I went up there to see.”

Warming to the appreciative crowd, Steffens talked about the reasons he likes to perform in Grahamsville. “I like a community and that’s what you guys have here. You make the call, say there’s a concert going on and everybody comes out, all ages.”

All ages indeed were singing, dancing and playing while the music played on. And there were even a few non-human fans enjoying the perfect weather and good music.

Sabrina Decker, who went to Tri-Valley school with Beluli pronounced the concert “a perfect way to end the weekend.”

Beluli and Steffens will again perform in the area on September 26. This time they’ll take one of the three stages at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts for the County-Wide Picnic Day, which features many genres of music from all over Sullivan County.

For additional information on the Town of Neversink’s Department of Parks and Recreation programs, call Director Jamie Brooks at 845-985-2262, ext. 312, or check out the Town of Neversink Parks & Rec Dept.

Find out more about the County-Wide Picnic at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts by calling the Sullivan County Visitors Association at 800-882-2287or visit the Bicentennial area of their Web site.

To view more photos from the Town of Neversink concert with Albi Beluli and John Steffens, visit the Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.