Misery Mother Records: Camp Saint Helene, Gary’s Dream, The Fascinating Chimera Project
**Misery Mother** is a record label and collective based in Catskill, NY, founded by the members of Camp Saint Helene — Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra, Dylan Nowik, Wesley Harper, and Alex Wernquest. This showcase is a way of introducing themselves, combining food, music, art and gathering, and of making space for mystery and wonder.
**Camp Saint Helene**
Camp Saint Helene’s musical style ranges from gentle folk to groovy psychedelia. Thematically, their work reflects devotion and the desire to create, especially in the face of adversity.
Camp Saint Helene formed seven years ago in Catskill, NY. Since then, Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra, Dylan Nowik, Wesley Harper and Alex Wernquest have found themselves growing together, insistent on building a world of their own. In just the past year, they have released their sophomore record, Of Earth and its Timely Delights (2024), as well as an EP accompanied by a short film, Call for Me (2025), founded their own record label & collective, Misery Mother, toured extensively, and collaborated with Angel Olsen. Their single “Wonder Now” was featured on Cosmic Waves Volume 1. (2024), released by Olsen via somethingscosmic / Jagjaguwar. The compilation also included a cover of their song “Farfisa Song”, by Olsen.
**The Fascinating Chimera Project**
Songs for the Moon is the second release by Hudson Valley-based three-piece The Fascinating Chimera Project. Made up of Alex Daud, Andrew Emge (The Big Net), and Dylan Nowik (Camp Saint Helene, Clairo), their patient, kaleidoscopic introspection creates a soft, curious sonic landscape that celebrates reflection and resilience. Created through the handmade lens of acoustic instruments and recorded in their at-home studio, the band seamlessly weave together Brazilian-pop rhythms, ambient instrumentals and velvet-lush piano ballads.
**Gary’s Dream**
Gary’s Dream has spent the past few years tending to the earth on a farm in Catskill, NY, while quietly writing their sparkling and hypnotic debut record, “Pretty Blue”. Founded by Vive Tilson (vocals, bass, violin) and Ryan Surrano (guitar), and joined by Wesley Harper (keys) and Shelby Surrano (drums), they consider the album to be a ‘draining of the wound’. It explores real experiences they had during the strange time between post-adolescence and pre-adulthood, with all of its infatuation and heartbreak. The record tells the story of how they each sank to the bottom of it and learned to swim back out again. Their music explores dark and cavernous emotions investigating sadness and processing anger, longing and disappointment. It speaks to the listener like the current of water; its flow pushes and pulls you to attention.
***Nourishing food and treats by Woodland Pantry will be available all evening.***