Today is May 18, or, 518 Day. The 518 is a huge region of New York State, an area code established in 1947 and covering 24 counties.
Extending from the Mohawk Valley just west of Utica, to the Vermont and Massachusetts borders, and north to Canada, the 518 includes Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Glens Falls, Plattsburgh and the entire North Country, Saranac Lake and the entire High Peaks region, plus Schoharie, Catskill, Hunter and Caroga Lake.
Among this wide swath of the state is a great deal of music, from bands to venues, festivals to promoters, concert series and figures in the scene, the 518 has a rich amount of music, so much that we thought a great way to celebrate 518 Day (May 18), was to come up with a list of Five Hundred Eighteen things that make the 518 a great place for music.
But we only had a week, so in working with our friends at 518scene.com, we came up with at least a start – 51.8 (rounded up to 52) music venues, bands, promoters, series and more, that make the 518 so great. Read our list below and their list here.
1. Caffè Lena
Founded in 1960 by Lena Spencer, Caffè Lena is the oldest continually running coffee house in the country. Home to an incredible array of folk, Americana, blues and international acts, this Saratoga Springs institution is a must for any music lover in the 518 and beyond
2. The Waterhole
Nestled in the Adirondack town of Saranac Lake, The Waterhole is a staple of the community, with concert series such as Party on the Patio, Saturday Night at the Waterhole, plus a packed calendar of music during Winter Carnival each year. If you’re in the Adirondacks for vacation this summer, stop in to see Eric and Kiki and catch a show at the fabled venue.
3. Tupper Lake Summer Sunset Concert Series
Just west of Saranac Lake on Route 3, you’ll find the town of Tupper Lake, and with it a pair of summer concert series, held on Monday and Wednesday nights. You’ll find unbelievable sunsets on Tupper Lake, a backdrop for music that photos just don’t do justice.
4. Ominous Seapods
A band that calls the greater 518 home, Ominous Seapods have long praised the region with songs like “Leaving the Monopole” and “Pull from Adirondack Blue,” the group have reunited in recent years to great fanfare, including guitarist Dana Monteith flying in from Australia for the shows.
5. The Park Theater
Glens Falls is undergoing a renaissance as of late, with a great deal of businesses, shops and restaurants peppering downtown and Glen Street, with the Park Theater a centerpiece to it all. The venue brings in national artist, comedy acts, jazz acts, Third Thursday and much more, as well as an educational partnership with nearby districts, bringing in a new generation of sound and light technicians.
6. Memorial Meltdown
Coming up over Memorial Day Weekend, the Charles R. Wood festival commons in Lake George will host the second Memorial Meltdown, featuring Twiddle and Frends, Dogs in a Pile, TAUK, One Time Weekend, Annie in the Water and much more. Tickets are on sale now.
7. Palace Theatre
Opened during the height of the Great Depression, Albany’s Palace Theatre shines brightly, entering its 10th decade and continues to host artists from all genres in a beautifully restored venue.
8. Annie in the Water
With a fanbase that is spread to every corner of the 518, and well beyond, Annie in the Water have established their catchy Indie/Americana sound all throughout the state, with fresh songwriting and energetic live performances a hallmark of their New York presence.
9. Caroga Arts Collective and Caroga Lake Music Festival
Located northwest of Amsterdam, the quiet town of Caroga Lake has woken up in recent years thanks to the Caroga Arts Collective bringing in music nearly year-round, as well as revitalization efforts on the century old Sherman’s Amusement Park. The lineup for music this year at Caroga Lake Music Festival is eye-opening too.
10. Greg Bell/Guthrie-Bell Productions
Local promoter Greg Bell has established the Albany jam-scene since the early 1990s, giving bands like moe., Ominous Seapods, Peter Prince and Moonboot Lover and dozens (if not hundreds more) a chance to make their name in a town rife with live music venues and crowds.
11. Freedom Park Scotia series
The annual series at Freedom Park in Scotia is flanked by Jumpin Jacks (great ice cream and burgers), the Mohawk River (with waterski performances) and a calendar of music that stretches from May to September each year.
12. Parish Public House
In downtown Albany along Broadway, you’ll find no better place for live music and cajun food than Parish Public House. Housed in a historic building and section of Albany, the legacy of live music in the 518 starts at the Parish door for bands looking to build their name and make fans in Albany.
13. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Originally opened in the 1870s, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has some of the best sound in the region, hosting artists of all genres who praise the excellent acoustics of the room. The free Music at Noon series has recently returned, and is always worth checking out.
14. Mirth Films
The team at Mirth Films has been around for only five years, but in that time frame they’ve established themselves as the premier Audio/Video company, capable of covering shows in all corners of the Capital Region without blinking an eye. Its no surprise they recently won three Eddies Awards for their efforts. Check out their recent interview with harpist Mikaela Davis.
15. Indian Ladder Farming Man Festival
Returning in July for year two, Indian Ladder farms invites you to partake in great beer and cider, as well as great music and farm vibes at Farming Man Festival. This apple picking destination has the perfect summer getaway, well worth a trip towards the Heldeberg Escarpment.
16. moe.
You know moe. has made their name on the 518 when they get a street named after them, which is what happened in February on moe.day in Albany. Add in countless shows at Valentines, two snoe.downs in Lake Placid, and the roots established on Western Avenue in the 1990s, you’ll find members of moe. gigging around the 518 with BlueStar Radiation, Midnight Sun and more.
17. Putnam Place
Saratoga Springs is blessed with a wealth of history, but Putnam Place is where music history is written on a regular basis, as nationally touring bands are seen alongside regional artists, making the venue a must spot for fans looking for a break from the bars of Saratoga or just needing to see what the next big band is that’s touring through the area. Check out their calendar and don’t miss Prince/Bowie on May 20.
18. The Egg
Designed by Wallace Harrison, based on a concept from then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller (picture a half a grapefruit in a bowl, and you can see the origin), The Egg has two venues inside – The 900 seat Hart Theater, and the 450 seat Swyer Theater, both of which offer pristine acoustics for performances of all genres. Notably, Mike Gordon of Phish released a live album, The Egg, from a recording of a December 11, 2011 performance at The Egg.
19. Nanola
Looking for a quiet spot for loud music and great food? Malta is the spot for you, with Nanola located on Route 9, with excellent cajun food and a variety of musical offerings throughout the week and especially in the summer.
20. Lark Hall
The recently opened Lark Hall brings with it a century of music history, and has quickly established itself as a must-stop venue for musicans and fans alike. You’ll be able to catch performances of RENT in June, plus the reunion of Space Carnival on July 6, along with much more.
21. Cohoes Music Hall
Coming up on 150 years, the Cohoes Music Hall has been revitalized in the last 50 years, with renovations and restoration taking place, while welcoming musicals, live music, tribute bands and comedians.
22. MVP Arena
Whether you call it The Knick, The Knickerbocker, Pepsi Arena, Times Union Center, or MVP Arena, anyone in the 518 knows what you’re talking about. The downtown arena that opened in January 1990 and has played host to Billy Joel, Phish, NCAA Tournaments, demolition derbies, and even inaugurations of governors.
23. The Linda
Affectionately known as WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio, The Linda is a restored 1926 art-deco bank that welcomes a widely-diverse roster of performing arts, concerts, debates, lectures, and also serves as a recording studio.
24. QE2
While not open under the name anymore, in the 1990s, the QE2 established Albany as a hotbed of the growing Alternative scene in the country. Grunge, hardcore and alternative rock acts could be found performing at the QE2 any given night in the ’90s. The venue has since been sold and renamed The Fuze Box, and continues to bring great music to the 518.
25. The Sembrich
The Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum, also known as The Sembrich, is an historic teaching studio located at Bolton Landing in Warren County. Built from 1922-24 as a teaching studio for New York Metropolitan Opera diva Marcella Sembrich, the 2023 “Trailblazers” Music Festival will celebrate the music of David Smith, Marin Alsop, Alma Mahler and Philip Glass.
26. Proctors Theatre
Originally a vaudeville theater, this Schenectady venue has welcomed legends of the stage and screen, as well as musicians to the stage. Proctors is nearing its centennial year in 2026, and always has the greatest hits from Broadway for fans looking to stay local as they take in a musical or play.
Ed note: new area code 838 is popping up in the 518, and we welcome a challenge to find Eight Hundred Thirty Eight things that make this region the best for music, but let’s take this one area code at a time.
