We predicted that our WRRV Sessions show with Julia Wolf was going to draw quite the crowd, but we NEVER could have imagined what the night had in store for us on Thursday, June 20th.

For everyone that braved wacky weather, waiting in line, POWER OUTAGES and more, our Sessions show with Julia will stand as one for the record books.

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Julia Wolf Draws Hundreds to Newburgh Brewing Company For Free Show

After making the announcement that Julia Wolf would be joining us for a free show at Newburgh Brewing Company for WRRV Sessions, the questions began rolling in and the 'no way, seriously?' comments had us anticipating a full house.

WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company

The Newburgh Brewing staff started providing us line updates in the early afternoon, and after speaking with the crowd once I arrived just about 3pm, we learned that the first fans arrived at the brewery around 12:30pm to secure their place in line. Sound check went off without a hitch and we were ready for what we were predicting to be an amazing night.

Just before we opened the doors at 4pm, we had just about 175 people lined up outside, and by 4:30pm we had gone well over the 200 person mark in the taproom. While we met plenty of Hudson Valley'ers, Julia Wolf's loyal fanbase traveled from all over the northeast to see her perform in this intimate setting for Sessions.

WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company

About 30 minutes into the live broadcast we had our first blip in remote connection to the radio station, meaning that the WRRV signal dropped out for a minute, but honestly I thought nothing of it...it happens. About 20 minutes later when a buzz went through the room, the lights went out, and water began streaming from one of the overhead air conditioner units, that's when my panic set in.

Julia Wolf Completely Unplugged at Newburgh Brewing Company

With just about 300 people in the room and temps in the high 80s, we knew we had to act quick. A complete power outage didn't stop Julia Wolf from delivering on her promise to play for her fans, and she took the stage well ahead of schedule to give a completely unplugged, quite literally, acoustic performance.

WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company

There was something pretty magical about the whole thing, instead of our Sessions audience freaking out or stomping out of the room, they just got a little closer to the stage, quieted down to hear our (microphone-less) stage announcements, and settled in for a Sessions performance that will stand out as one of the best of all time.

A full set, a sing-a-long among friends (both old and new), and the longest meet and greet line I can remember, and every single person that showed up for the performance got to spend time talking with, getting photos with, and autographs from, the amazing Julia Wolf.

WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company

Julia handled this wild situation with such grace and professionalism, I think much better than all of us at WRRV who first just sat there looking at each other, then went into panic mode before realizing that we just had to fly by the seat of our pants and make it work.

WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company
WRRV Staff/Newburgh Brewing Company

....and work it did. It all worked out, and beautifully.

Thank you Julia Wolf for being so good to your fans, and to us, and for sticking it out to perform unplugged and do a meet and greet. Thank you Newburgh Brewing Company for being the best hosts around and going with the flow right along side us (and for all the ice water, too). Finally, a massive thank you to all of you, our WRRV Sessions veterans, some newcomers, and new to the Hudson Valley attendees who made the night one we'll never forget.

Let's do it again sometime...maybe with electricity? Make sure you have the WRRV app to stay in the loop for our next Sessions announcement.

Thanks to out amazing WRRV Sessions partners - Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law, Sohns Appliance Center, Newburgh Brewing Company and SUNY Orange Plus.

Bike Routes at WRRV Sessions

On Thursday June 4th, Bike Routes (from NJ) joined us for a great acoustic WRRV Sessions!

Gallery Credit: V.Turco

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