Few rappers boast the resume of Nas. After all, with a career spanning over three decades, 14 studio albums — 8 of which have gone multi-platinum — the Queens native is one of the few rappers with the resume to make a claim as hip hop’s GOAT. The 16-time Grammy nominee continues to stave off father time, remaining as prolific as ever. With a catalog bevy of hits, classic hip-hop cuts and poignant story-telling, Nas remains in demand. In turn, the legendary rapper, mogul, actor, executive producer and co-founder of Mass Appeal Records will make his way to Albany’s Palace Theatre in a showcase dubbed “An Evening With Nas.”
An Evening With Nas: What to Know
The hip hop legend returns to the Palace Theatre on Friday, July 19 in a performance that is sure to feel like a homecoming for the Magic rapper. All in all, the capital region maintains an intense appreciation for classic hip hop and the boom bap sound. Moreover, New York’s upstate region spearheaded the return of the raw, gritty New York City sound that permeated during hip hop’s golden era.
However, Nas isn’t here to relive old glories. Having recently released Magic 3 — completing two simultaneous three-album runs with Hit-Boy — he remains a prominent force in the hip hop diaspora. Therefore, while fans will surely await classic cuts like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “I Gave You Power,” and “One Mic,” there will be those just as eager to hear cuts from Nas’ latest run. From his Grammy-winning King’s Disease and its subsequent series to the trilogy of Magic tapes, “An Evening with Nas” will present fans with nonstop content. Above all, Nas remains at the heart of the genre for loyalists and guests alike.
Tickets for “An Evening With Nas” at the Palace Theatre in Albany go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. Moreover, tickets are also available for purchase at the Palace Theatre Box Office (located at 19 Clinton Ave). Box Office hours are Monday â Friday Noon to 5 p.m. as well as select days and hours.
On Wednesday, March 13, a hungry crowd packed into Empire Live on North Pearl Street for the Disco Biscuits, currently on tour ahead of the release of Revolution in Motion, Part 1, due out on March 29.
The show marked a return to a smaller venue in Albany, instead of the Palace Theatre, where the Philadelphia trance-fusion pioneers have played 7 times, dating back to 2004. The 1,000 capacity Empire Live offered a club feel to the show, an underground vibe where fans of the Biscuits could gather and dance to nearly three and a half hours of live electronic jams. For a night, this was Albany, New York’s hottest club, and even with sightlines what they are, the crowd carried on and enjoyed the mid-week throw down late into the night.
Opening up with “Morph Dusseldorf,” the twists came early with samples of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” dropped into the nascent “Morph” jam, honoring a fan’s birthday request and offering a glimpse of untzgrass, at long last. “Triumph” slipped in next, giving way to 30 glorious minutes of “Save the Robots” leeching into the ending of “Astronaut,” giving way to an inverted version of the fan favorite. A resounding “Suspended in the Air” middle section of “Astronaut” was particularly blissful, while the ending section was peppered by another sample, this time Tone Loc’s “Funky Cold Medina,” with the middle-age crowd nodding at each other upon recognition of the now 35-year old song.
After a standard 30 minute setbreak, the Biscuits returned with “M.E.M.P.H.I.S.,” venturing out into a spacious jam that found its way into the end of “Naeba,” which would be the second inverted song of the night. The slow churn into the song, as well as the stretched out ending were disco bliss, had plenty of room for improv as well as to dance – this was not a coincidance.
A Tractorbeam version (instrumental) of recent debut “Dino Baby” followed and made way to “Another Plan of Attack,” the two songs being the newest songs of the night, following nearly two hours of old school songs. With sampling becoming commonplace this tour, another surprise in the form of “Hella Good” from No Doubt was found in parts of “Another Plan of Attack,” and while this could have been the end of the night, the Biscuits whisked their way into a 36-minute “I-Man” that had twists and turns and the crowd fist pumping along well past midnight.
An encore featuring the recently released “Spaga’s Last Stand” was all that was left in this deep tank of electronica improvisation, where we find the Biscuits at the top of their game.
The Disco Biscuits will be back in New York on March 29 at Webster Hall for the album release show, followed by two nights at Town Ballroom in Buffalo over March 30 and 31.
Setlist via Biscuits Internet Project Disco Biscuits – Empire Live – Albany, NY – March 13, 2024 Soundcheck: Magellan, Wet Set 1: Morph Dusseldorf 1, Triumph > Save The Robots > Astronaut 2 3 > Save The Robots Set 2: M.E.M.P.H.I.S. > Naeba 2 > Dino Baby 4 > Another Plan of Attack 5 > I-Man Encore: Spaga’s Last Stand 1 with ‘Jolene’ (Dolly Parton) samples 2 inverted 3 with ‘Funky Cold Medina’ (Tone Loc) samples 4 Tractorbeam version (instrumental) 5 with ‘Hella Good’ (No Doubt) teases
Worldwide music phenom Donny Osmond is set to play at the Palace Theatre in Albany this summer. Donny will perform his timeless hits along with latest album Start Again. Along with the Palace Theatre July 3, Donny plays in NYC July 12 and Niagara Falls July 13.
The Palace Theatre in Albany has announced Donny Osmond’s return to their main stage this July. Osmond will stop in Albany as a part of his upcoming summer tour. The tour sees two other dates in New York, including NYC and Niagara Falls.
Osmond will showcase his talent and perform tracks from his latest album Start Again. This album marks the artist’s 65th album, a massive career milestone. Along with the latest album, Osmond will perform all-time hits from his catalogue like “Soldier of Love,” “Sacred Emotion” and more.
Donny Osmond headlines his award-winning solo residency at Harrah’s Las Vegas which was voted Best New Show, Best Performer, Best Resident Headliner and Best Production by The Las Vegas Review Journal.
Donny Osmond has notably entertained a vast array of audiences with his varied career choices. He has starred on Broadway as Gaston in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and hosted multiple Emmy nominated television shows. The critically acclaimed song Captain Li Shang’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from the Disney film Mulan was sung by Donny.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 8 at 10AM. To purchase tickets to see Donny Osmond at the Palace Theatre, click here.
Circles Around the Sun returned to Albany for a sold out show at Lark Hall on Saturday, March 9, with Mikaela Davis and Southern Star opening the night. With five disco balls on stage for the two bands, the audience was presented to an incredible evening of Discofied Grateful Dead-inspired dance music.
“Home in the Country” from her 2023 release And Southern Star led to a bit of improv, then shifted to “The Pearl,” which had a subtle Grateful Dead-esque intro. Towards the end of “Leave it Alone,” Davis encouraged the crowd to engage in ‘wooing’ – to which they eagerly participated – before smoothly moving into Alice Coltrane‘s “Journey in Satchidananda.” Davis then gave a shout out to her and the band’s collective Upstate roots, hailing from the Catskills, Syracuse and Rochester, before wrapping up her set with “Other Lover.”
Setlist: Cinderella> In My Groove, Home in the Country, The Pearl, Get Gone, Leave It Alone > Journey in Satchidananda> Promise, Other Lover
Circles Around the Sun took the stage for what would be a nearly two-hour performance, with John Lee Shannon (guitars), Adam MacDougall (keys), Dan Horne (bass), and Mark Levy (drums) channeling the spirit – but not the songs outright – of the Grateful Dead. What transpired was the full crowd grooving along, dancing outright but never standing still as Circles went full Disco on the Dead.
Whether it was the “Language“-adjacent “Away Team,” the slow funk disco of “Landline Memories,” or mellow 1970s mall music churning into a nightclub fever pitch in “Immoveable Object,” the performance led the crowd jive relentlessly.
Early Circles songs – “Babyman” and “One for Chuck” – put the focus on bassist Dan Horne, who held the beat all night, and effortlessly drove the tempo towards a swinging disco of “Money’s No Option.” A standing encore brought Mikaela Davis and her harp back out to the stage for a trio of songs – “After Sunrise” (originally a Sergio Mendes and Brazil 77 song, reworked by the artists), Gloaming Away (a late 70’s synth strut) and the hypnotic grooves of “Language.” The encore alone could have extended another hour and none of the sell out crowd would have complained.
Circles Around the Sun – Lark Hall, Albany – Saturday, March 9, 2024
Blues legend Taj Mahal and Gambian legend-in-the-making Sona Jobarteh graced the stage of the Hart Theater at The Egg on Thursday, March 7 for an immaculate night of globe-spanning music.
Taj Mahal – photo by Conor McMahon
Sona Jobarteh is the first female griot kora master, hailing from one of the five principal kora-playing families in West Africa. With a history spanning 1,000 years, Sona continues a legacy handed down for generations, for the first time to a woman who makes her presence known on the stage and in her home of The Gambia. Jobarteh’s humanitarian activism has led to her founding The Gambia Academy, an institution dedicated educational reform for Africans on the continent of Africa.
Pairing her virtuosity on the kora and the guitar with ethereal vocals, Sona and her band blended traditional West African music with blues and pop from the Mother Continent, and in doing so created an original sound that is at times hypnotic. Walking out one at a time – first the percussion and bass, then guitar and finally Jobarteh – the audience was led immediately to engage in a call and response song, “Jarabi,” with an outset intention to engage all for this very full evening of music.
For an hour, Jobarteh demonstrated with precision the kora while her band crafted beats unlike any other. Each song was given an introduction, with meaning and spirituality invoked throughout, making the connection to the music deeper as the performance progressed. Jobarteh is a beacon of light from West Africa, shining farther west than her ancestors could have ever imagined.
Sona Jobarteh and her band at The Egg – photo by Pete Mason
Harlem-born Taj Mahal took the stage a short while later, strutting out to center stage in his signature Panama hat, surrounded by at least seven guitars of varying sound and size. Opening with “Wild About My Lovin’,” his vocals were tinged with age and rasp, perfect for a gritty blues love song. “Fishing Blues” and the classic “Corrina” followed, after Taj Mahal noted that he had a lack of radio hits over his career.
“Queen Bee” was dedicated to the guys in the audience, with a suggestion that they play this song for their girl the next chance they get. A hint of the Caribbean could be heard in the steel drums of Robert Greenidge (formerly of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefers Band) throughout the evening, while the Hawaiian steel guitar of Bobby Ingano on a cover Santo and Johnny’s “Sleepwalk” creating a creole stew of blues from across the hemisphere.
Taj Mahal and his band with Sona Jobarteh and her band
For an encore, Sona Jobarteh and her band were welcomed back to the stage to perform, “Giant Step.” Watch the song below and photos by Conor McMahon.
Taj Mahal Setlist: Wild About My Lovin’, Fishing Blues, Corrina, Bettye and Dupree, Cakewalk into Town, Queen Bee, Slow Drag, Roscoe’s Mule, Lovin’ in my Baby’s Eye, Sleepwalk, Blackjack Davey, Giant Step (with Sona Jobarte and her band)
Albany based jam band Hilltop recently released their brand new EP, Getting There Together on February 16. This follows the 2022 release of Live Rips, and is their latest studio output since “Prophecy” – a stand alone single from July of 2022.
The quartet is made up of brothers Reid and Stephen Perry on drums and percussion, along with Aris Nieuwkerk and David Klang on guitar and bass respectively.
Getting There Together is mixed bag of rock, funk, jam and country influences.The band defines Getting There Together as“a collection of 4 songs from our catalog that outline the importance of living in the moment and cooperating.”
Photo Courtesy of hilltoptheband.com
The EP begins with “Beautiful”, a rock and jam inspired song introduced by its catchy unison guitar and bass riff. The song tackles lyrical themes of living in the present, stating “our future concerns and past regrets will all fade away.” It eventually transitions into spacey like ambience, which allows Aris the space to build a unique solo before returning back to the main unison riff to end the song. During their live performances, Hilltop is known for extending these sections, allowing the spontaneity of improvisation to lead the direction of the song.
“Sunshine” starts with an intro reminiscent of Pink Floyd, a quiet soundscape that slowly builds and crescendos into a funk-rock inspired groove. The bass and drums are locked in and really drive the feel of the song. The chemistry between the two are apparent on this recording. Hilltop’s use of vocal harmonies on the chorus add an additional layer of depth and power to their message. Sunshine contains a short, overdriven guitar solo that leads to a final chorus with the refrain “we’ll make our own sunshine today”, continuing with this trend of optimism and positivity in their lyrics.
The third song off the EP, “Something New,” contains beautiful guitar harmonies layered by Aris. These first three tracks are accredited to songwriting duo Aris and Reid.
“Moonshine”, the final song on the EP, is heavily inspired by traditional country and bluegrass. Walking bass, a chugging train beat, and country guitar picking all meld to create the only David Klang (bass) original released on Getting There Together. David is also Hilltop’s Mastering Engineer for the entirety of the EP.
Getting There Together by Hilltop is currently available on all streaming services here.
Photo courtesy of www.hilltoptheband.com
Hilltop 2024 Tour Dates:
03/29 – Electric Haze (Supporting Dead Man’s Waltz) – Worcester, MA
The human body is made up of 206 bones and on Wednesday, February 28th, the voice of Paul Janeway touched every single one of them during a dynamic, soul-shaking performance at The Egg in Albany. Along with his 7-piece powerhouse jazz ensemble, St. Paul & the Broken Bones cooked up a near perfect mix of colorful showmanship, joyful jams, and fantastic fan interaction as the band not only celebrated their third time playing the beloved venue, but also the ten year anniversary of their breakthrough debut album, Half The City. It was their first time back in the area since wowing the crowd last year at the annual Saratoga Jazz Festival.
Paul Janeway of St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
A wet and windy Wednesday night outside The Egg, things started cooking inside with an impressive opening set from Bowling Green, Kentucky’s Sugadaisy. Combining a modern grunge vibe with a healthy dose of psychedelic pop, the venue’s excellent acoustics made them sound huge right off the rip. Sparked by a Daniel Johnston Hi, How Are You T-shirt worn by one of the guitarists, there were moments you simply couldn’t help but think of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. Unsure what to make of Sugadaisy at first, by the time they finished their short, but energetic set, it’s fair to say they’d won the Albany crowd over and earned a slew of new fans. Following a brief set change, it was finally time for St. Paul & the Broken Bones to take over.
Sugadaisy opened the show for St. Paul & the Broken Bones on 2/28/24.
Rising to prominence with over a decade of near constant touring, the Birmingham, Alabama-based rock n’ soul band boasts more than a million monthly listeners on Spotify, have released 5 studio albums and shared stages with a veritable who’s-who of music royalty that includes the likes of Sir Elton John and The Rolling Stones. Known for the signature falsetto voice of their flamboyant frontman Paul Janeway (aka St. Paul), The Broken Bones also consist of bassist Jesse Phillips, guitarist Browan Lollar, drummer Kevin Leon, keyboard player Al Gamble, trumpeter Allen Branstetter, trombonist Chad Fisher and Amari Ansari on saxophone.Â
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing at The Egg on 2/28/24.
Kicking off their headlining set in style, each member of The Broken Bones came out one-by-one to the darkened stage, seamlessly picking up their instruments to join in on the opening “Marvin Jam” before the always dapper-looking Janeway sauntered out of the shadows to a massive applause. Instantly turning up the funk with “Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like), St. Paul & the Broken Bones wasted no time getting right to their biggest chart topping hit, “Call Me,” which the crowd immediately recognized and sang along to. All warmed up and feeling good, Janeway would take a brief moment to acknowledge the audience and make note that their debut album, Half the City, had been released ten years ago this week. Thanking the crowd for helping give them a career, the band would then play the album’s title track followed by an emphatic, soul-wrenching rendition of “I’m Torn Up,” the album’s opening song.
“I can’t let it down, this hope I feel
Oh this city has made me cry but I still can’t leave her
The streets paved with pain of all my past loves
Please don’t let it die cause I have had enough”
Lyrics from “Half the City”
From something old to something new, St. Paul & the Broken Bones would change things up a bit with a pair of songs, “Wolf in Rabbit Clothes” and “Sea Star” from their most recent album, 2023’s Angels in Science Fiction. Growing up on a steady diet of gospel and soul music like The Stylistics, Sam Cooke and old school Marvin Gaye, it’s easy to see where St. Paul & the Broken Bones draw their influences from, but it’s not often you hear a white man that sings falsetto with the power and control of Janeway. What really sets him apart, however, is the way he’s able to command the entire stage. Working both sides while simultaneously showcasing some fancy footwork (and fancy shoes), Janeway’s presence was mesmerizing.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
Singing falsetto from the depths of his soul, so hard in fact, that at times it had him dropping to his knees reaching for the notes, like he did on “Grass is Greener.” After receiving a huge ovation for his efforts, Janeway quietly disappeared back into the shadows. Far from a one-man-show, The Broken Bones took over from there with an extended “Roach Clip” jam that saw each member taking turns soloing in the spotlight and the energetic Amari Ansari running from one side of the room to the other wailing away on his saxophone to the delight of the ultra-attentive Albany crowd.
The powerful horn section was heavily featured once again during “LivWithoutU,” before the dirty, slowed-down groove of “Minotaur” put the audience in a near euphoric trance. Building the energy back up with a pair of tunes from 2018’s Young Sick Camellia, “GotItBad” > “Apollo” would bring the main portion of the show to a close and leave fans hollering for more.
Baby
Is there a right when all is wrong?
Is there a partner when we’re left all alone?
Oh, but I wanna feel something real
Lyrics from “Sanctify”
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
Returning to the stage now wearing a sparkling sequin cape, Janeway would take his theatrics to the next level. First falling to floor and rolling around like a guitar-less Marty McFly as he crooned the lyrics to “Like a Mighty River,” the crowd who had largely remained seated to this point, finally got up on their feet when Janeway suddenly jumped off the stage to join them.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
As fans quickly grabbed their phones to snap obligatory selfies, the connection between the artist and the audience here felt completely authentic. Singing “Sanctify” while climbing all the way up to the soundboard area of The Egg’s backrow, the man who once thought he wanted to be a preacher found his Albany congregation in the palm of his hand. High-fiving as many of them as he could on the way down, the entire room seemed to be smiling ear to ear. Back on stage for the disco-vibed “Last Dance,” the energy in the Egg had reached its boiling point. Already three songs into the encore, fans were given one last treat and one final song from Half The City as “Broken Bones and Pocket Change” would bring the stellar performance to a close. After a well-deserved standing ovation, even the seasoned ushers were left commenting on just how good of a show this was.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones performing in Albany on 2/28/24.
After playing in Buffalo the next night, St. Paul & the Broken Bones officially wrapped up their year-long Angels In Science Fiction tour in Charlottesville, VA on March 3rd. After taking a couple weeks off, the band will return to their stomping grounds of Birmingham, Alabama for a hometown throwdown on March 23 before setting off on a lengthy European tour later this summer.
St. Paul & the Broken Bones | February 28,2024 | The Egg | Albany, NY
Setlist: Opening Marvin Jam, Flow With It (You Got Me Feeling Like), Call Me, Half the City, I’m Torn Up, Wolf in Rabbits Clothes > Sea Star, Grass Is Greener, Roach Clip, Livwithoutu, Minotaur, GotItBad > Apollo.
Encore: Like a Mighty River, Sanctify, The Last Dance, Broken Bones & Pocket Change.
Albany Symphony has unveiled its celebratory 2024-2025 season to kick off in October with concerts taking place in a wide variety of Capital Region concert venues, including the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Palace Theater, Proctors, and EMPAC
David Alan Miller, Music Director of Albany Symphony and Grammy-winning conductor.
The 2024/2025 season includes soloists; Yuval Chen, Raman Ramakrishnan, Bokyung Byun, Karen Hosmer, Grace Shryock, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Harmony Zhu, Amaryn Olmeda, Kala Ramnath, Stephen Williamson and Third Coast Percussion. This season’s new work will include Tania León, Joan Tower, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Roumain, Loren Loiacono, Missy Mazzoli, Reena Esmail, Bobby Ge, Clarice Assad, Sophia Jani, and Christopher Theofanidis.
The programming for this season has been curated by the award-winning conductor David Alan Miller. “We are thrilled to share our new season with you,” said Miller. “In addition to many of the greatest classics of all time, we are looking forward to introducing you to some of the most beautiful and inspirational new and recent works by the most compelling living American composers. We also look forward to working with an amazing group of guest artists, including a brilliant up-and-coming guest conductor who graduated from Guilderland High School! I promise you an absolutely unforgettable, thrilling journey of musical exploration. My brilliant Albany Symphony musician colleagues have never sounded more beautiful!”
The 2024-2025 season features several brilliant soloists. Beloved Albany Symphony oboists Karen Hosmer and Grace Shyrock will perform at the Holiday Mozart and Vivaldi concert. Harmony Zhu, a teenage prodigy who made her debut with the Albany Symphony in 2020, will perform Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Kala Ramnath, a seventh-generation violinist specializing in Hindustani (Indian) classical music, will perform. Prize-winning guitarist, Bokyung Kim will premiere a new concerto written for her by Nicky Sohn. Amaryn Olmeda will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto under the baton of guest conductor, Lidiya Yankovskaya, Music Director of Chicago Opera Theater, who grew up in Guilderland, NY.
The 2024-2025 season runs from October through the American Music Festival in June. The deadline to renew the subscription is April 14. Through the Nielsen Associates’ Student Access Program, students can purchase discount subscriptions and enjoy the full benefits of being a subscriber for as little as $45. To purchase a subscription online, fans can visit here or call the Albany Symphony Box Office at 518-694-3300.
Albany Symphony 2024/2025 Season:
**Artists, programs, venues, and dates subject to change
TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIRST CONCERTO
Palace Theatre, October 19, 2024
Yuval Chen, piano
Tania León: Pregón (world premiere)
Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable”
DVORAK’S “NEW WORLD”
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, November 16 + 17, 2024
Raman Ramakrishnan, cello
Bedřich Smetana: “The Moldau” from Má vlast
Joan Tower: Cello Concerto “A New Day”
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”
HOLIDAY MOZART & VIVALDI
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, December 21 + 22, 2024
Bokyung Byun, guitar
Karen Hosmer & Grace Shyrock, oboes
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sinfonia from “Christmas Oratorio”
Nicky Sohn: Guitar Concerto (world premiere)
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Oboes
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 35 “Haffner”
THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
Palace Theatre, December 8, 2024
BEETHOVEN’S PASTORIAL
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, January 11 + 12, 2025
Mark Bamuthi Joseph, speaker
Carlos Simon: Fate Now Conquers
Daniel Bernard Roumain /
Marc Bamuthi Joseph: Forgiveness, Suite for Spoken Word & Orchestra
Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
RACHMANINOFF’S PAGANINI RHAPSODY
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, February 15 + 16, 2025
Harmony Zhu, piano
Randall Thompson: A Trip to Nahant
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Loren Loiacono: Sleep Furiously
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1, “Spring”
BARBER’S BREATHTAKING VIOLIN CONCERTO
Proctors, March 8, 2025
Lidiya Yankovskaya, guest conductor
Amaryn Olmeda, Violin
Missy Mazzoli: Orpheus Undone
Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7
BOLÉRO
Palace Theatre, April 5, 2025
Kala Ramnath, violin
Maurice Ravel: Boléro
Reena Esmail: Concerto for Hindustani Violin
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
Palace Theatre, May 3, 2025
AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL: WATER MUSIC
EMPAC, June 14, 2025
Stephen Williamson, clarinet
Third Coast Percussion
Bobby Ge: Water Music (world premiere)
Clarice Assad: Percussion ConcertoSophia Jani: What do Flowers do at Night?
Proctors and theRep have announced their show lineup for the 2024-2025 season. After hosting “The Not So Late-Night Show” on Feb. 26, the Proctors Collaborative hosts John Gray and Lydia Kulbida were joined by Philip Morris, Proctors CEO, and Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, producing artistic director of theREP, to announce the remarkable shows coming to the MainStage at Proctors in Schenectady and the Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany.
Pictured: AEA Actor, Joshua Redfield and local actress Emily Curro
The first show of the KeyBank Subscription Series at Proctors, Some Like it Hot, is set in Chicago when Prohibition had everyone thirsty for excitement. Some Like It Hot is the “glorious, big, high-kicking” story of two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit. With gangsters hot on their heels, they catch a cross-country train for the life-chasing, life-changing trip of a lifetime.
Next, in December, Proctors is bringing a musical based on one of the greatest entertainers of all time, Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Schenectady as MJ, the multi-Tony award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own.
Starting in 2025, the MainStage will host another show, Parade, in January. Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion.
In February, a theatrical event unlike anything else will be coming to the MainStage with Life of Pi. Based on the novel that sold more than 15 million copies and became a worldwide phenomenon, Life of Pi is an epic story of perseverance and hope that speaks to every generation and also “gives new life to Broadway” according to The Today Show.
Following Life of Pi, Proctors will bring a corn-fed, corn-bred American musical to the MainStage with Shucked in March- a musical that is sure to satisfy the fan’s appetite for a great musical theater. In April, they will welcome a love letter to the theatre with Funny Girl. This bittersweet comedy is the story of the indomitable Fanny Brice, a girl from the Lower East Side who dreamed of a life on stage. Everyone told her she’d never be a star, but then something funny happened—she became one of the most beloved performers in history.
Last, Proctors will host the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast in June. Fans will witness Disney’s newly reimagined 30th-anniversary production of the musical – filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love.
In addition to the shows in the KeyBank Broadway Series, Proctors will also offer three subscriber exclusive add-ons with Hadestown in October 2024, Come From Away in March 2025, and Clue in May 2025. Proctors subscribers can choose a crossover show from theREP’s 2024-2025 season.
Starting in September, theREP kicks off the 2024-25 season, presented by OverIt, with Seared by Theresa Rebeck. Brilliant, hot-headed chef Harry scores a mention in a food magazine with his signature scallops, and his business partner Mike finally sees profits within reach. The only problem? – Harry refuses to recreate his masterpiece for the masses. For an extra treat, scallops will be cooked live on stage each night.
Just in time for the holidays, A Sherlock Carol by Mark Shanahan will begin in November. Reunite with the characters you love from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens, now brought together in this hilarious holiday whodunit filled with intrigue, suspense, and a helping of holiday cheer.
Starting the rest of the season in 2025 is The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini. Weaving together nearly two centuries of family history, this grand theatrical event charts the humble beginnings, outrageous successes, and devastating failure of the Lehman financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees.
In April, theREP will feature their 2023 NEXT ACT! New Play Summit winner with the world premiere of Rosie is Red And Everybody is Blue by John Spellos. Rosie is unhappy–and when Rosie is unhappy, everybody else is too! Her unemployed son has moved back in, her brother-in-law came to visit for a week and is showing no signs of leaving, the bills are mounting up and the only one that seems to listen to her is her husband—whose ashes live in the urn on the fireplace mantel.
Last in theREP’s upcoming season is Once by Enda Walsh with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová in July. Over one fateful week, an unexpected friendship quickly evolves into an inspirational musical collaboration. As the music soars to powerful new heights, the unlikely connection is deeper and more complex than an everyday romance. Subscribers to theREP 2023-2024 season presented by OverIt can choose a crossover show from the KeyBank Subscription Series at Proctors.
black woman shout and jumping
Subscriptions for the 2024-25 KeyBank Broadway Series at Proctors and the 2024-25 season at theREP presented by OverIt go on sale on Feb. 27. Subscriptions are available through the Box Office at Proctors, in person or through the phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Single ticket on-sale dates have yet to be announced for the upcoming season.
Alt-metal vanguards From Ashes To New today, announce a headlining US tour this spring titled, “The Blackout Tour Pt. 2.” The tour will see support from California-based rockers Point North in addition to special guests including heart-hop rapper Ekoh, emo rapper Phix, and hip-hop/rock artist elijah.
The tour sees four dates in New York State. Albany, Huntington, NYC, and Rochester will expect a stop from the acts. From Ashes To New has a diverse sound compiled of hard rock, hip hop, electronic and alternative. The band draws massive influence from the soundscape of the 90s and 2000s.
“We are beyond excited to unveil our highly anticipated Blackout Tour Part 2. The response to Part 1 was so overwhelmingly positive that we knew we had to bring our most exciting show yet to new cities that missed out on the first round. Once again, we are pulling all the stops and bringing along our brothers in Point North, Ekoh, Phix, and Elijah to make each show a night to remember. Lastly, this tour is not just about music; it’s about creating unforgettable experiences and connecting with fans old and new. Get ready to join us on this incredible journey!”
Vocalist Danny Case
The tour sees From Ashes to New perform their classic hits as well as new music, including potent new track “Barely Breathing.” The tour kicks off in late May and extends to late July, with one final show well into September.
FROM ASHES TO NEW – “THE BLACKOUT TOUR PT. 2”
with Point North, Ekoh, Phix and elijah
4/30 Albany, NY – Empire Live
5/1 Huntington, NY – The Paramount
5/2 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
5/4 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
5/5 Philadelphia, PA – TLA
5/6 New York, NY – The Gramercy Theatre
5/8 Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
5/9 Orlando, FL – House of Blues *
5/10 Mobile, AL – Soul Kitchen ~
5/12 Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre
5/13 Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
5/15 Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans ~
5/16 Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819 ~
5/18 Rochester, NY – Water St. Music Hall ~
5/19 Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
5/20 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
5/21 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
5/23 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre ~
5/24 Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom
5/25 Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
5/27 Houston, TX – House of Blues
5/28 Austin, TX – Emo’s
5/29 Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall *
5/30 San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater
6/2 Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom ~
6/3 Springfield, MO – Gillioz ~
6/5 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
6/6 San Diego, CA – House of Blues
6/7 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
6/8 Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC
6/11 Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
6/12 Denver, CO – Summit
6/13 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre ~
7/19 Caddott, WI – Rock Fest ^ ~
7/20 Grand Rapids, MI – Upheaval Fest ^ ~
7/21 Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration ^ ~
9/27 Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life ^ ~
^ festival appearance (FATN only)
* no Point North
~ non-Live Nation date
Tickets and From Ashes To New VIP packages will be available starting with an artist presale beginning today at 12 P.M. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale starting on Friday, March 1 at 10 A.M. via From Ashes To New’s website HERE.
