Hurricane Irene certainly did wreak some havoc around Nippertown, but the fine folks behind the second annual Restoration Festival at St. Joseph’s Church in Albany weren’t about to let a hurricane rain on their parade. And in spite of it all, the festival went on…

Yes, both of Sunday’s headliners – A Hawk & a Hacksaw and the Music Tapes – had to bow out of the festival line-up. And yes, the folks from B3nson – who organized the benefit fest for the restoration of the fabulous former church – decided sometime around 2pm to make it a free festival. Hey, just like Woodstock, right?

But the music was great, and after several delays, Slender Shoulders finally kicked off Sunday’s procedings at 3pm.

And Matthew Carefully’s one-time-only massed band the Undone Ensemble was certainly one of the magical, musical highlights of the entire weekend’s fest.

Tags: Albany, Bryan Thomas, Matthew Carefully, Restoration festival