On Thursday, June 27, Vanessa Carlton performed at Albany’s Alive at 5, located at Jennings Landing, on the waterfront of Albany.
Vanessa Carlton, originally from Milford, Pennsylvania and quickly moved to fame after her first single “A Thousand Miles” moved into the Billboards Top Ten. She was recently on tour with Stevie Nicks and is now making a few stops for summer concerts.
Carlton brought a large crowd to Jennings Landing on Thursday night to share songs from her first to her most recent album. Along with her songs “White Houses” and “Ordinary Day” she sang a few covers such as “Dreams” by Stevie Nicks. Carlton’s music had the whole crowd old and young dancing and singing along. The Alive at 5 stage created a beautiful back drop of the Hudson River and the golden hour light lit up the stage.
Carlton’s performance left us all signing ” A Thousand Miles” on the way to our cars. Be sure to see the perfect summer concert series at Jennings Landing before the series ends.
Remaining Alive at 5 2024 Concert Schedule
July 11 KRS-ONE July 18 Third World July 25 The Record Company August 1 Galactic (presented by WEQX and NYS Music)
The Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department, Bethlehem Public Library, and Friends of Bethlehem Public Library are teaming up to bring back their popular Thursdays in the Park event series.
All shows will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the special events lawn (adjacent to the pool entrance) at Elm Avenue Park unless an alternate park location is noted.
Bethlehem, NY just south of Albany, has all the benefits of being a smaller town while still being so close to a big city.
A staple in the community for years, Thursdays in the Park shows are the perfect summer evening activity for anyone in Bethlehem or the surrounding area looking to sprawl out on some lush grass and take in live music or performances. Almost every Thursday between June 27 and August 22 will bring a new act, with all being family-friendly performances that are great for all ages.
Unless otherwise stated, all of the shows this year will take place in Bethlehem’s largest park, the gorgeous Elm Avenue Park. Elm Avenue Park has a wide variety of facilities, including a pool complex, tennis and basketball courts, pavilions, a fitness trail, playing fields, volleyball courts, shuffleboard, a dog park, and a playground. On top of all that, the park has an elevated stage overlooking a vast grass field.
Some of this year’s diverse acts include Jester Jim the Juggler, British Vinyl, a British Invasion tribute band and a production of “Finding Nemo Jr.” thrown by the Playhouse Stage Company.
Please be advised that alcoholic beverages are prohibited. In the event of rain, every effort will be made to reschedule the events. Check the Bethlehem Parks & Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages for event cancellation notices.
In addition to the Thursdays in the Park series, multiple other community events will be happening around Bethlehem this summer. Those will be listed after the full list of Thursdays in the Park performances below.
Bethlehem NY Thursdays in the Park
Jester Jim June 27
Jester Jim is back! This is not your ordinary juggling show! With a trunk full of props and a looping machine, all will be glued to every sight and sound.
Glass Pony July 11
Encapsulating influences stretching across decades from psychedelic and jam-focused rock, to funk, post-punk, and even modern indie and post-rock, the Albany, New York collective Glass Pony offer a sound that truly translates through generations, with a stylistic blend built to engage a broad listenership.
Story Laurie July 18 Set sail for adventure with Story Laurie’s delightfully participatory performance of stories, sea chanteys, and maritime lore from the Seven Seas!
Northern Comfort July 25
Come check out this local band playing rock & blues – originals & covers e.g. Tom Petty, Allman Bros, Clapton, Dire Straits, etc!
British Vinyl August 1
The British Vinyl Band is a five-piece band from upstate New York performing songs by British groups from the early years, 1960s to early 1970s. You can always find a tribute band of one group, but now you’ve found one that pays tribute to the entire British Invasion Genre.
Emma Olson Magic (This show is at Henry Hudson Park) August 8
Emma is a young magician on the rise. She is based in New York City yet has performed all over the country, it’s safe to say her dediÂcation to the craft has paid off. Aspraised by America’s Got Talent winner Shin Lim, “She’s incredible and has such a bright future ahead of her”. She recently performed her close-up act to acclaim as part of the International Magic Festival of Madrid, and while there was show cased twice on Spanish national television. Emma will perform her interactive magic act as well as her act that has been seen on TV – Penn & Teller: Fool Us! Everyone will get the chance to see her magic live and the chance to be part of it as well or even collect a souvenir!
Playhouse Stage Company August 15
“Finding Nemo Jr.” brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and ad venture. Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow,” and lovable characters such as Marlin, Nemo, optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supÂportive Tank Gang!
Flame the Band August 22
Flame is a high-energy American Cover band that performs globally playing all your favorites, from the classics through today’s hits, including some originals. Formed in 2003, they gained popularity from their appearances on Good Morning America and in People Magazine. They have also been featured in Tokyo, Ja pan’s Daily Mainichi News, News-2-You, News Channel 10 and other news outlets around the world. Flame consists of talented members who happen to have dis abilities. They have toured internationally to South East Asia; Athens, Greece and Capri, Italy.
Other Happenings in Bethlehem
4th of July Family Day Thursday, July 4, 12-8:00 PM Elm Avenue Pool Complex
Regular pool fees are in effect
12:15 – 1:30 PM: Saxophone Sam
1:15 – 2:00 PM: Magician Jim Snack
2:00 – 4:00 PM: Live music by Playin’ with Fire
2:30 – 4:30 PM: Balloon Gal Jenny
9:00 PM: Fireworks sponsored by Sevenzocks Property Maintenance and Landscaping
Late Night Movie at the Pool Friday, August 2, 8:15 PM Elm Avenue Pool Complex
Join us for a late-night movie under the stars! The movie will start at approximately 8:15 p.m. Free admission after 6:00 p.m. Help us pick a movie! Simply vote for your favorite at the pool.
National Night Out
Join us as the Town of Bethlehem takes back the night with one of the largest crime prevention gatherings in the United States. Visit here for up-to-date information regarding the event.
Celebrating the event’s 20th anniversary, Colonie, NY, unveiled the lineup for this year’s Tuesday Nights in the Park Concert Series. The free-to-the-public series will run every Tuesday night between now and August 27, with shows starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Cook Park Frank A. Leak Amphitheater.
Colonie, is a town of about 80,000 people nestled at the north end of Albany County. Besides having many beautiful parks, including the Crossings, a 130-acre passive park with miles of biking and walking trails, and numerous historical sights, Colonie is home to the annual Tuesday Nights in the Park Concert Series at the Cook Park Frank A. Leak Amphitheater.
The free concert series captures the attention of locals every year, with performances often bringing in crowds that fill out the on-looking field with an array of multicolored lawn chairs and blankets. This year’s series is particularly special, with it being the 20th anniversary of the first Tuesday Nights in the Park show in 2004.
The 2024 series boasts a lineup of performers that play a wide variety of musical genres, ranging from New Orleans cajun blues to Celtic to soul. From originals in unique genres to classic covers, there’s bound to be something for everyone in this year’s setlist.
Funded entirely through sponsors, benefactors and individual patrons, Tuesday Nights in the Park is a true Colonie community event. In the words of Colonie Village Hall, “During the summer, Tuesday nights in Cook Park are alive with music, laughter, dancing, and community camaraderie.”
Food and refreshments will be sold on-site by Mike’s Hot Dogs, and bathrooms are available in the nearby Cook Pavilion. In the event of rain, shows will be held on the following Wednesday in the same location, weather permitting. For any questions regarding the series, the Colonie Family Recreation Center can be contacted at (518) 218-7782.
The official poster and full written lineup are below.
Tuesday Nights in the Park Full Schedule with Musical Genres
June 25 – Electric City Horns (Rock/Pop/Swing)
July 2 – Lucid Street (Pop, Rock and Beyond)
July 9 – TS Ensemble (Sinatra to Today)
July 16 – Skeeter Creek (Country)
July 23 – Triskele (Celtic)
July 30 – The Accents (Greatest Hits)
August 6 – Capt. Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers (New Orleans Cajun Blues)
August 13 – Soul Session feat. Garland Nelson (Multi-Genre Soul Session)
The Green Island Gazebo (GIG), in Green Island, NY, located 10 minutes north of Albany, has announced the performance lineup of their annual summer concert series.
All GIG shows will be free to the public and take place every Wednesday between July 10 and August 28 at the scenic Lower Hudson Ave Park.
With a population of roughly 3,000 packed into just a square mile, Green Island is a tight-knit community. 2024 marks the 21st year of GIG’s annual summer concert series, now a staple in the town. The shows have always been held in the quaint Lower Hudson Ave Park waterside gazebo, which is the perfect spot to bring some lawn chairs and relax.
This year’s artists all performed at last year’s GIG summer series, except for Emmy Award-winner and former WNYT News Channel 13 news anchor, Jerry Gretzinger, who will perform a Frank Sinatra tribute show called “Sinatra: The Man. The Myth. The Music.” on July 24.
On top of their annual summer concert series, GIG also hosts the Festival of Trees, which is an annual Christmas tree decoration event, followed by a visit from Santa, who greets the children and sings Christmas carols for them.
All shows will run between 6 and 8 p.m. In the event of rain, concerts will be held under the Collar City Bridge on Hudson Avenue. Visit the GIG Facebook page here.
GIG Concert Lineup and Schedule
July 10 – The Accents
July 17 – Get Up Jack
July 24 – “Sinatra: The Man. The Myth. The Music.” featuring Jerry Gretzinger
The 27th Annual Albany LatinFest will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24 featuring Taina Asili, DLG, Tony Succar, and talent from local artists.
Photo by Mabou Riddick
This year’s lineup includes Taina Asili, a Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter and activist. Originating from Binghamton, her music contains a variety of styles and inspirations ranging from Afro-Caribbean and flamenco to hardcore punk and opera. Asili is also an extensive activist focusing on prisoner justice, climate justice, food justice, and female empowerment.
DLG (Dark Latin Groove) will bring some fun salsa music to LatinFest with a performance that incorporates reggae and hip-hop into salsa music. In 2009, the band was nominated for a “Best Tropical Album” Grammy Award as well as a Premio Lo Nuestro Award for “Best Tropical Group” the same year.
Lastly, Peruvian-American percussionist, Tony Succar will take the stage. Succar is also a composer and producer. In 2015 he became the youngest Latin Grammy winner of Producer of the Year and Best Salsa Album. Since then he’s had Grammy nominations in 2021, 2023, and 2024. His set at LatinFest is not to be missed.
Photo by Mabou Riddick
Along with exhibitions from local talent, the festival will offer raffles, Latino vendors, crafts, and a Kid Zone.
The event is held in Albany’s Washington Park from 11 AM to 6 PM and free to the public. In the case of rain, the festival will be moved to the I-90/I-787 interchange in Corning Preserve.
The Albany Latin Festival Association (ALFA) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote and develop Hispanic cultural events in the Capital Region of the State of New York for the purpose of acknowledging the contributions of Hispanic performing artists and promoting an appreciation for multicultural diversity. For more information visit www.albanylatinfest.org
A new face in the Albany Music scene, Lake Effect, released their first six-song EP, Drifting on May 17.
The band formed in 2022 with Lenore Aldi-Snow, who writes all the original music. The other three members come from the funk band, NoLaNauts, also based in Albany. Ben Moss is on Guitar, Brian Brancato is on drums and background vocals and Matt Girtler is on bass and backing vocals. The group played for what they thought was just one performance on New Year’s Eve 2022 at Jive Hive Live, a small venue in Albany.
Lake Effect came together again at Christ’s Church in Albany in April 2023 as an official band this time. They played 23 of their original songs including the tracks from Drifting. The EP was mixed and produced by Alec Lewis at his studio, Honey Home.
The EP is full of Aldi-Snow on the keys playing classic funk rhythms. “Trouble” has an uncanny resemblance to Bill Wither’s “Use Me.” The band uses neo-soul and funk sounds but mixes them with Aldi-Snow’s crisp jazz vocals. “EDGE,” the last track on the EP features Brancato’s and Girtler’s vocals with a blues-rock end to Drifting.
Although Lake Effect is currently on a break due to other musical commitments, they plan on recording more music in the future – listen to their EP Drifting on any streaming site.
The Albany Symphony announced seasoned orchestra manager, Emily Fritz-Endres, as their new executive director. Fritz-Endres has more than a decade of experience within the music industry, having worked for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“We are thrilled that after a national search led by vice-chair of the board Daniel Kredentser and a dedicated search committee, Emily Fritz-Endres has been chosen as our new executive director. We were impressed by her proven leadership successes in financial management and strategic planning, and are excited to welcome her,” said Faith Ann Takes, chair of the board for the Albany Symphony. “Emily will be an excellent leader for the Symphony and together, we will ensure that the Albany Symphony will flourish even more throughout our region.”
During her time with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fritz-Endres focused on financial and facilities planning, bringing the organization into alignment with the diverse Atlanta community, artistic ambition, venue solutions, audience development, and an endowment campaign. At the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Fritz-Endres served as director of board administration cultivating relationships with the orchestra’s 250 trustees and advisors. She organized projects including the opening of the Linde Center for Music and Learning at Tanglewood, two fundraising campaigns, and a governance restructure.
Fritz-Endres will take the helm as executive director beginning in August 2024 and continue the work that David Hyslop, Albany Symphony’s interim executive director, began in January 2024.
“I am honored to lead the Albany Symphony, an adventurous, future-looking orchestra devoted to championing the music of our time. I am grateful to my predecessor, Anna Kuwabara, a leader I admire for her talents in building enduring community partnerships and her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the organization nears its centennial, I am thrilled to work with the wildly creative David Alan Miller, and the talented orchestra, board, and staff as we expand how our music celebrates, educates, and transforms the people of the Capital Region and beyond,” said Fritz-Endres
Fritz-Endres earned her MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and her BA from Carleton College in Minnesota. When not in music venues, she loves playing clarinet, being in nature, and mentoring queer youth.
The Albany Symphony has shows running all year, with the next show being the symphony’s Summer Soiree on June 27. More information and tickets for the Albany Symphony can be found here.
The three-day Old Songs Festival of Traditional Music and Dance on the Altamont Fairgrounds outside of Albany will be held at the end of the month on June 28-30.
The 44th festival celebrates traditional music from around the world. This includes North American music from Appalachia, New England and Quebec as well as music from Ireland, West Africa and South Africa. In other words, “music with roots”.
The Main Stage performances are on June 28 and 29 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. and on June 30 3:30 to 7 p.m. There will be arts and crafts vendors, workshops, call and responses, traditional dance classes and open mics as well as concerts from various artists.
Old Songs uses the barns, a dance building and historical buildings on the property for the events and has a smaller family stage used for children’s performances. Local kids will also have a chance to participate in the festival with the “Great Groove Band.” Any child who plays an instrument can play with the band with the help of musical coaches.
Great Groove Band’s goal is to inspire the next generation of musicians. They invite any child aged 5 to 18 to perform in a professional setting. Donna Hébert created the band in the late 90’s at Old Songs Festival and in 2018, her daughter Molly Hebert-Wilson, became the director. On June 30, the band has a performance on the main stage at 2:30.
Other performances include those of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train, Robin & Linda Williams, The Ebony Hillbillies and more.
To purchase tickets and for more information you can visit the website here.
The Egg, Albany’s Center for Performing Arts will host a new free series, OPEN House, starting Friday, August 2. The event is in partnership with the NYS Office of General Services, Black Arts & Culture Festival, and First Friday.
The Egg is holding a new series of events, opening their unique venue up to the community and anyone who wants to attend. Attendees who RSVP will get a preview of the space while being able to enjoy a night full of various forms of entertainment, all free of cost.
To commence the series of visual arts and music, entertainment starts at 6 PM as doors open in the lobby. Guests will be greeted by projections by B.A. Miale, a psychedelic visual and projection creator from the Hudson Valley. Additionally, the projections will be accompanied by music from a DJ set by Intell Hayesfield.
At 6:30, there will be a screening of Black Panther in The Egg’s Swyer Theatre. The movie will be followed by a performance from Ghost-Note at 8:30, to close the night out.
Ghost-Note is an 8-piece funk band headed by two members of the Grammy-winning band Snarky Puppy. The band is made up of talented musicians whose combined repertoire includes the bands of Prince, Snoop Dogg, and Erykah Badu to name a few.
Ghost-Note
Members and new patrons alike are invited to the Open House series to experience what The Egg has to offer.
For more information visit theegg.org To acquire tickets and donate to The Egg, RSVP here.
The first ever Belmont Festival in Saratoga Springs kicked off in grand fashion on Wednesday night, June 5th. Ahead of the historic weekend, concert goers turned out by the thousands for the official opening, a block party dubbed ‘Belmont on Broadway’ headlined by the Grammy Award winning rock band Blues Traveler.
Often referred to as “the Summer place to be,” the enthusiastic atmosphere could be felt all over the city. Propelled by the distinct voice of the legendary John Popper and his scorching array of harmonicas and harmonies, the good-time vibes were off the charts, contagious and perhaps a little rowdy.
Belmont on Broadway: Fans flocked to Saratoga Springs for a free Blues Traveler performance on 6/5/2024.
With the six-day festival expected to bring the Spa City more than $50 million in revenue, the massive crowds also meant massive business for the local shops and restaurants downtown. People of all ages lined every inch and stoop of Broadway, arriving early to catch the opening set from eight-piece local rock and soul ensemble Tops of Trees. With a steady influx of concertgoers packing in like sardines by the time the charismatic Pat McGee Band took the stage, it was Grade A entertainment all around as friends, families, and strangers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, sweaty and smiling on this humid summer night in early June.
And They’re Off: The Pat McGee Band got the party started early in Saratoga on 6/5/2024.
With stellar production services provided by the fine folks at High Peaks Production, the overall program ran incredibly smooth and both looked and sounded great from the start. After a brief word from organizers, the winners of the Belmont on Broadway window decoration contest were announced as Heidi Owen West and Stacey D’Andrea-Goodman of the Lifestyles of Saratoga boutique. Clearing the stage shortly after 8pm, it was finally time for the band everybody came out to see.
Dancing in the Streets: Concert fans lined the streets of Saratoga ahead of the Blues Traveler performance on 6/5/2024.
Once ruling the radio with chart toppers from their massive, multi-platinum selling album Hook, the beloved improv-heavy rockers from Princeton, New Jersey, Blues Traveler proved they still know how to party like it’s 1994. No stranger to headlining festivals, the band is credited as the driving force behind the original H.O.R.D.E. (Horizons of Rock Developing Everywhere) festival that successfully toured the country from 1992 to 1998, including memorable stops at SPAC just up the road. Once again playing up to a massive crowd all these years later, Blues Traveler hit them with hits early and often.
Hey babe, let’s keep in touch: John Popper sings “Run-Around” with Blues Traveler in Saratoga Springs 6/5/2024.
Consisting of harmonica wizard and band leader John Popper, along with guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Tad Kinchla, keyboard player Ben Wilson and drummer Brandon Hill, Blues Traveler opened with perhaps their most popular song, “Run-Around” resulting in city-wide sing-along that’s still reverberating somewhere down Caroline Street. Demonstrating their propensity to jam, Popper would catch fire early, utilizing his signature array of custom harmonicas to blow the audience away on a “Dropping Some NYC” > “Moby Dick” > “NY Prophesie” sandwich.
Dressed in a familiar floppy-brimmed hat and looking as healthy as he has in years, the band would find it’s lengthiest groove on the psychedelic Kingpin rocker “But Anyway,” while fans then took the opportunity to spark up during a cover of Tom Petty’s “Mary Janes’s Last Dance.” The heartfelt “Mountains Win Again” was perhaps the most emotional song of the evening, followed up by perhaps the funkiest in a cover of the Son Seals classic, “Funky Bitch,” which many fans often confuse as a Phish original.
Blues Traveler performing in Saratoga Springs on 6/5/2024.
Segueing nicely into an equally funky “War Pigs” keyboard jam before alligator-ing at breakneck speed into a ferocious, foot stomping rendition of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” (which the band humorously changed to “The Devil Went Down to Saratoga”), the melodic interplay between Popper and Chad Kinchla’s colorful guitar solos would shine bright all night long, but especially on 1997’s “Carolina Blues.”
Tasty Licks: Guitarist Chan Kinchla preforming with Blues Traveler on 6/5/2024.
Gracefully dipping off stage while each member of the band was given the chance to solo in the spotlights, Popper would lead Blues Traveler through the remainder of the set that combined an easy melodic flow crossed with a plethora of choice cover songs and sophisticated soul-funk boogie. With highlights that also included teases of Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” and Aerosmith’s “Eat the Rich,” Blues Traveler would bring the main portion of the set to a close with a massive sing along to their smash hit “Hook.”
With the curfew rapidly approaching and the enthusiastic Spa City crowd still eating it up and begging for more, the band would insight the famous “Toga” chant from the Animal House film, before encoring with one final cover, ZZ Top’s “La Grange.” A great evening of music powered by a band that’s stood the test of time, the atmosphere in downtown Saratoga Springs was downright electric and made you hope ‘the powers that be’ will take notice and introduce more events like this one in the future. For now, you can re-live this entire performance via tapper audio at the link below courtesy of Archive.org.
“The newsman said not to sit on strange toilet seats / It’s my life he’s trying to save, but anyway I found out that I got eye cancer / Too many television waves, but anyway” – Lyrics to Blues Traveler’s “But Anyway”
Up next for the band, Blue Traveler will take the rest month off before returning to the legendary Red Rocks in Morrison, CO for their annual 4th of July throwdown. Later this August, you can catch them back in New York with a pair of dates at Lewiston Artpark and the Perinton Center Park Amphitheater in Fairport.
Blues Traveler | June 5,2024 | Belmont on Broadway | Saratoga Springs, NY
Setlist: Run-Around > Things Are Looking Up, Dropping Some NYC > Moby Dick > Bass Solo > NY Prophesie > Dropping Some NYC, But Anyway, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, Mountains Win Again, Funky Bitch > War Pigs Jam > Devil Went Down to Georgia, Carolina Blues > Drums > Hook.
Encore: La Grange.
The Pat McGee Band | June 5,2024 | Belmont on Broadway | Saratoga Springs, NY
