Chosen Family

02/07/2025

This September: Two intimate nights in the Catskills with Shannon Lay, Shana Falana, and Meernaa!

Tues 9/9 at in Catskill (best Korean food and vibes)
Wed 9/10 at in Woodridge (between Ellenville and Liberty) as part of their series! Outdoors in a beautiful setting, there are tiny homes/lodging on site, and if staying this show is included!

Tickets for both are on sale now and in bio

02/03/2025

Whoa, only 40 tix left for Mabe Fratti at Unicorn Bar, Fri Apri 11th! Tix are just $20 in adv, amazing artist to see in such an intimate space.

Bar opens 5pm / doors to show open 7pm
8pm Sing Leaf / 9pm Mabe Fratti

31/01/2025

Join me this Monday (Feb 3rd) for a special screening of ‘This Is National Wake’ with Director Mirissa Neff at the new state-of-the-art theater The MARK at in Saugerties.

This documentary (released 2022) covers one of the most punk rock bands of all time, as they defy the apartheid laws in South Africa in the 70s by being multi-racial, while also blending punk, funk and a utopian vision for the future.

7PM screening followed by Q+A, hosted by me Mike Amari with Director Mirissa Neff, who is also putting together a rad playlist for before and after the movie ! Tickets are $12 or less, link in bio. This is part of an incredible Sonic Waves series every Monday at Upstate Films.

15/01/2025

Really special show to announce: Mabe Fratti Fri April 11th at Unicorn Bar

With one of my favorite records of 2024, and a real knack for blending beautiful songs with experimentation and improvisation, I’m very excited to bring this Mexico City based, Guatemalan artist to the Hudson Valley for the first time, as a trio. This will be amazing in the intimate and great sounding back room at Unicorn Bar in Kingston.

Tickets are just $20 in advance which is a steal, onsale now
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mabe-fratti-unicorn-bar-tickets-1148772963859

16/11/2024

((LOCAL WAVES)) is teaming up with .7fm / this winter to expand and deepen their ‘new local music’ library! This will make it easier for on-air DJs to find and play local artists, and it will also populate the ‘Hudson Valley Sounds’ program 8-midnight every Friday! Deadline: Dec 1st (tho you should send new releases as they happen for WGXC to add as well)

I encourage all Hudson Valley, Capital Region, and Western Mass based artists to submit their 2020 or newer releases! Please email with ‘Local Waves’ in title, MP3s (320kbps) or a bandcamp link w/ dl code to: [email protected]

WGXC is one of the Hudson Valley’s great community / experimental stations, serving Greene + Columbia counties at 90.7fm and beyond at wgxc.org

01/11/2024

Your November Showpaper!

31/10/2024

Our 23rd and final issue of the Chosen Family Zine is going out starting today and should be in all spots by Sat! swipe for main locations and check stories for even more in real time

Its absolutely stuffed with local art, writing, local music releases, photography, and nearly 150 interesting events in the showpaper!

In mid November we will share our resources for how we have been making the zine, if anyone wants to start their own or continue an element like the showpaper. If you’d like to be on that, just dm us your email, thanks!

22/10/2024

Absolutely chuffed to have this piece by .geary (occasional zine contributer) in the about the end of the zine, and also spoke a bit about leaving Opus 40 too. Link to full article in bio, no paywall, pics by !

20/10/2024

Tonight! 6PM Doors / 6:30 Orlas (from Rio!) / 7:15 Fascinating Chimera Project / 8:00 Sessa !

$20 tix / $25 at the door:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chosen-family-presents-sessa-with-the-fascinating-chimera-project-tickets-1007657951057

19/10/2024

Spoke a bit about why we're winding down the zine after November, and why i've left Opus 40 in this very lovely piece by Tristan Geary for Times Union: Hudson Valley

The free showpaper and culture zine launched by industry veterans Mike Amari and Liam Singer in 2022 is winding down after the November issue.

18/10/2024

This Sunday, up in the misty golden mountains of Round Top, NY at Glen Falls House: Chosen Family presents SESSA! Psychedelic tropicália from Sao Paulo, with local indie dream rockers and *just added* from Rio opening!

Tickets will be avail at the doors, but save a few bucks by grabbing in adv ($20/$25 in bio). Make a night of it with dinner at GFH’s great restaurant (resv’s are open)! Doors to the Tavern open 6pm with Orlas 6:30, FCP 7:15, Sessa 8PM

15/10/2024

Unfortunately, November’s issue of the Chosen Family Zine will likely be the last one. Both Liam (aka ) and I have not been able to put the time and energy into it that we would like this year, and are always scrambling last min to fill it and fill the sponsors etc. Unneeded stress in our lives. This winter we will explore handing it off to new ppl (especially the showpaper, which still feels needed!) if interested please reach out

That said, if you would like to submit writing/art/comics etc for the final issue, please send by TUES 10/22, to [email protected]

Same goes for listing your November events, send to [email protected]

And reach out to either of those if you or your business would like to sponsor this issue! We have a cpl hundred $ deficit so far this year we would love to cover that on this last one so that it is a breakeven affair.

Will share more thoughts on this in Nov, but wanted to let y’all know now. Appreciate the wild and feverish interest in grabbing the 1k or so issues we put out around the Hudson Valley each month! It’s been a blast 🧡