Rick Danko gave him the name. The Band’s bassist and singer looked at the keyboard player who had become his longtime studio collaborator and called him Professor Louie, and the name held — through sixteen years of sessions, through the three comeback albums they made together in The Band’s final chapter (Jericho, High On The Hog, Jubilation), and through every December since Danko’s passing. On Saturday, December 26, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix return to Colony Woodstock for their annual birthday tribute — more than nineteen years running — three days ahead of what would have been Danko’s birthday. For a group that grew up in Woodstock, plays in Woodstock, and honors a man who named their bandleader, the geography is more than incidental.
About the Show
The set concentrates on Danko’s solo catalog and the songs he created with The Band. The Woodstock Horns join the Crowmatix throughout the evening; Stella Prince and Larry Packer are also on the bill. A Grammy-nominated act and Blues Hall of Fame inductee (New York Chapter) based in Woodstock, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have served as the primary keepers of this tradition since Danko’s passing. As a five-decade industry veteran, Professor Louie’s production credits extend well beyond The Band to include Graham Parker, Commander Cody, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Mercury Rev. The group logs 150 shows annually across festivals, theaters, and clubs; their most recent record, Crowin Around, came out in 2025, and their 2017 album Crowin’ The Blues charted top 20 nationally. All ages are welcome; those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Venue & Logistics
Colony Woodstock opened in 1929 and has served as a gathering place for music in the Catskills ever since. Originally a venue for dining and big band entertainment, it operates today as a ballroom and kitchen space that books everything from Monday open mic nights to weekend ticketed concerts. The venue describes itself as “The Smartest Rendezvous in the Catskills,” and the programming bears it out. At 150 capacity, it is the kind of room where a tribute like this earns its intimacy: close enough to feel the weight of the songs without amplification pulling them apart. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the show runs 7–10 p.m. Colony Woodstock is at 22 Rock City Road in Woodstock, in the Hudson Valley.
Tickets
Tickets are $23–$29. No refunds. Buy tickets