in the fall of 2015, amidst the frenetic chaos of a cross-country tour, gracie coates (of gracie and rachel) and holly miranda (of holly miranda) crossed paths. both seasoned musicians who had carved out their careers in the eclectic, ever-vibrant music scene of new york city, they later found themselves on a friend’s porch in 2022, rekindling a shared passion. it was here, with ani difranco’s supergroup, the righteous babes, that the seeds of a new musical collaboration were sown.

what began as an impromptu house concert in gracie’s bearsville living room soon blossomed into golly presents, an intimate project born from a desire to spotlight artists in a raw, acoustic setting, complete with the allure of a grand piano. this endeavor was not just about performances but about creating a sanctuary for genuine listening — a concept that resonated deeply with audiences.

the summer of 2023 saw the opening of graveside variety in woodstock, new york, a pop-up cabaret + community art haven that quickly became a cherished third space for the local community. as performances + workshops flourished, it became clear that this space filled a significant cultural gap in the area.

who could have imagined that from that humble living room show, just a year later gracie + holly would be on the cusp of unveiling a state-of-the-art listening room at 67 mill hill road... yet, this journey — rooted in serendipitous connections + a shared love of music — has been a testament to the power of community and the transformative magic of live performance.