Just south of Canada, the quaint town of Waddington, NY, is bringing back its annual Waddington Summer Concert Series between July 5 and August 23. Acts in this series have entertained over 15,000 people in just the last five years, with 2024 marking the fifteenth overall year of the series in the beautiful pavilion at Island View Park.
Waddington, NY, is a small and close-knit community with a population of about 2,200 people. Known for some of the best sunsets in the North Country, Waddington is an idyllic destination for anybody in the area looking for a day-long getaway.
However, aside from the town’s walking trails, river-front beach, and annual carp fishing tournaments, the Waddington Summer Concert Series is one of the town’s biggest recreational outlets.
Going by the theme of “Music on the Shore – 2024” for this year’s series, the Waddington summer series is back for its 15th straight year. Moreover, like every year, Waddington summer series is free to the public. Similarly, all shows will run between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., aside from three that have extended hours. Shows with unique hours are noted in the full-listed lineup.
Additionally performances will take place at the Island View Park pavilion, just next to the St. Lawrence River. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one of the town’s famous sunsets while watching a show.
For more information and updates, visit here. See below for this year’s full lineup.
Summer Series July Lineup
July 5th – Mark Rust
Mark Rust will kick off the annual Alice Carr Memorial Dedication concert. Mark, a multitalented musician from Woodstock, NY will perform favorite songs to memorialize friends and family lost to our community in the past year.
July 12th – 6:30 to 9:30: Leave Those Kids Alone
New to the pavilion stage is a phenomenal group coming to us from Ontario, Canada. These talented kids will grace our stage for 3 hours! The “Kids” will entertain with a mix of classic rock covers and original tunes, and they will rock it!
July 19th – 6:30 to 9:30: Double Axel
Back by popular demand, we present everyoneâs favorite group: Alex, Rob and Frank have been making music together since 1971. Also, they love what they do and it shows.
July 26th – Phil Hurley
Phil Hurley is returning to the Waddington stage this year. Phil is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and bassist. This talented musician does it all. In fact he has played with many bands you would recognize and has written songs for films and TV shows. Phil is a true professional and will certainly entertain.
August Lineup
August 2nd – 6:30-10:30: SFM In conjunction with HOMECOMING
The Waddington Concert Series is an annual stop for these talented musicians who never disappoint.
August 9th – Tas Cru
Tas Cru returns this year to share his own unique brand of Blues. Tas is a prolific singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has recorded 5 albums in the last 7 years. Namely, Tas performs a mix of original songs along with crowd-pleasing classics, all with his own twist and unique style.
August 16th – Chris Taylor and the Custom Taylor Band
Hailing from central New York, Chris and his band are New York’s premiere Top 40 Country Music band. The band has opened for many country music recording artists. Come on down for an up-close concert with these very talented musicians.
August 23rd – Northbound
We are very proud and honored to present Northbound. These talented men have been playing a mix of pop, folk and rock together for years. They are tight and in-tune, with a relaxed interaction on stage that is sure to charm and entertain.
Once again, 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.
The 518 area code extends from the Mohawk Valley just west of Utica, to the Vermont and Massachusetts borders, and north to Canada, and 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. A huge area of the state, and combined with the new 838 area code, covers more than 2 million New Yorkers!
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 wanted to keep this digestible, and 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. We started in May 2023 with our list and that of 518scene, and for 2024, we’ve got 52 more things that make the 518 great.
Read our list below and 518scene’s list for 2024 here.
1. 518 Day of Giving
Let’s start with a great way to give back – 518 Day of Giving is the first online, regional fundraiser of its kind on May 18, 2024. The day intends to harness the power of community to connect nonprofit organizations with new and existing donors, while raising funds and awareness for the nonprofit community. Collectively, participating nonprofits hope to raise $518,000 to continue to provide vital supports and services throughout the Capital Region and beyond. Donate to a variety of organizations here.
2. The Erie Canal Song
You likely learned this in grade school if you grew up anywhere near the Mohawk or Hudson Rivers. Originally titled “Low Bridge, Everybody Down,” the song by Thomas S. Allen recounts the history of the Erie Canal, and was first published in 1913 when the New York Barge Canal replaced the Erie Canal. While the sheet music cover shows a boy on a mule ducking down to pass under a bridge, the reference to “low bridge” in the song actually refers to travelers who would typically ride on top of the boats and need to lower their heads to allow for safe passage. Taking a geographic trip from Buffalo to Albany, the final lyrics of the song are “Low bridge, everybody down, Low bridge, I’ve got the finest mule in town. She’s a perfect, perfect lady, and she blushes like a gal. If she hears you sing about her and the Erie Canal.”
Stay tuned for a full history on the song this summer, ahead of next year’s Bicentennial of the Erie Canal’s opening!
3. Jive Hive Live
Located in Albany, Jive Hive Live is an intimate, state of the art, private space built for live recording and video livestream productions. Their mission is to provide a resource of both people and “things” that will enable talented musicians, artists and other creatives to share their work with “the world” in a professional manner typically out of reach. The goal is to build a self sustaining community that is “better together” vs the typical “zero sum game” environment.
4. Jazz on Jay
If you like jazz, then Jay Street in Schenectady is the place to be Thursday’s from 12-130pm at the corner of Jay Street and State Street for free outdoor concerts and enjoy some of the best live jazz acts in the 518.
5. WEQX
Founded in November 1984 by Brooks Brown as an independent radio station, WEQX may be stationed in Vermont at Mount Equinox (hence the call sign EQX), but the broadcast reach hits much of the 518, and as far east as New Hampshire. EQX is a sponsor of numerous live music events and presents a variety of concerts in the Capital Region. Entering their 40th year, WEQX is a true independent radio station, highlighting artists from across the 518 and New England with shows such as EQXposure, Going Underground, Jam n’ Toast and many more.
6. Starlite Music Theatre
Here’s a throwback for folks in Colonie. The Starlite Music Theatre was a theatre in the round, seating 3,000 attendees around a center stage, originally opening in 1958. Designed for theater as well as live music and comedy, the venue hosted the lives of Rodney Dangerfield, Three Dog Night, George Carlin, “Weird Al” Yankovic, B.B. King, The Beach Boys, Gallagher and many more. The located was closed in the early 2000s and demolished in 2012, making way for what was to be the headquarters of Ayco, but seems to be an open lot currently.
photo by Sara Ayers
7. Sawyer Fredericks
An Americana singer-songwriter from Glen in Montgomery County, Sawyer Fredericks, began playing local farmers markets, open mics, and iconic New York venues at the age of 13. With his deep, beyond-his-years original lyrics and melodies, soulful vocals, and powerful live performances, Sawyer seemed an unlikely match for reality tv, but he won over audiences to win season 8 of NBC’s The Voice. He continues to perform around the Capital Region and elsewhere.
8. Skyway Collective
The Skyway Collective started in the summer of 2023 as an idea to utilize Albany’s newly built Skyway. The idea: get together some DJ’s, decks, and speakers, and have a pop-up hang. Word quickly got out about the Monday night weekly pop-up dubbed Minimal Monday’s, gaining a social media stamp of approval from Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and the idea started to blossom into a community. With its swift growth and high demand, Steve Mink (SM INK), Connor Heid (Cauzee), Kellen Hagen and Devan Collins (DRC) began discussing where to go from there, and during one Monday night brainstorm on the skyway, “The Skyway Collective“ was born. The Collective has since evolved into its own production company with its signature “Skyway sound” system which the team utilizes to host club events and hold residencies around the capital district. As The Collective will soon be celebrate their 1st anniversary in June, they continue to make strides build the house/techno scene in upstate NY.
9. Washington Park Lakehouse
Located in Albany’s Washington Park, this Spanish Revival structure was designed by Albany architect J. Russell White and has been a feature of the park for many years, although not part of the original scope of the park, which opened in 1873. The interior of the lakehouse is detailed and has terrazzo floors and wrought-iron chandeliers. The outdoor amphitheater area is used for live music during the annual Tulip Festival, and hosts Park Playhouse theatrical performances during the summer. The Lake House is situated on 90 acres of rolling urban parkland, and the landscape architecture was inspired by Fredrick Law Olmsted.
10. Bogies
A staple of the Albany club scene in the 1990s and opened in the mid-1970s, Bogies was a beloved hole in the wall venue located at 297 Ontario Street that closed its doors for good in 2015, after ample efforts to revive the dive. Small, packed for shows, Bogies was THE place for underground music in Albany throughout its tenure and featured bands such as State Champs, Blink 182, PVRIS, Black Flag, Ice Nine Kills, The Replacements and dozens of metal bands in its latter years, plus other bands so briefly tenured, they’re lost to history. RIP Bogies.
11. The Eddies
The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards Show and the Hall of Fame was created in 2019 by Sal Prizio and Jim Murphy of Proctors Theatre, to shine a light on the incredible talent of the local music scene, both past and present. Hundreds of individuals, groups and companies working in the artistic, technical, managerial, media and support areas of the Capital Region music industry are nominated every year, with an annual award show, typically in April. The Eddies are a part of Proctors Collaborative.
12. Dad Fest
Dad Fest is the City of Albany’s celebration of all the fantastic fathers out there, featuring a Classic Car Show, great food, music and vendors. Dad Fest is a chance for the whole family to kick back and enjoy an early summer afternoon at one of the Capital Region’s most picturesque parks. You don’t have to be a dad to enjoy Dad Fest as this event offers a little fun for everyone.
13. Eastbound Jesus
Eastbound Jesus was formed almost in 2010 in Greenwich, NY, a group of friends who clicked when writing music. They slowly picked up shows, dubbed their genre ‘Northern Rock’ and proceeded from there. The band has an intense local following in the 518, with packed shows across the region.
14. WAMC
WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states, stretching across the 518 of New York, as well as the 315 and points south, they also cover events and news as far as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. Stations and translators are in twenty-nine locations throughout the region, with offices and studios in Albany broadcasting 24 hours a day with a wide variety of publicly funded programming. NYS Music is a proud sponsor of WAMC.
15. Universal Preservation Hall
Located at 25 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs, Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) is a year-round arts and community events venue managed by Proctors Collaborative. With seating up to 700, this venue is one of the few ‘theatres in the round’ still in existence. The building opened February 29, 2020 after being restored to be a performance hall and rental venue, and despite the timing, it was a success starting with an exhibit of Rock n Roll pinball machines, as well as concerts and the Capital Region Music Music Hall of Fame induction each year.
A view of Universal Preservation Hall is seen during the media tour and ribbon cutting of the new concert hall in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (Jenn March, Special to the Times Union)
16. Washington County Fair
Located in Greenwich, what has come to be called the Washington County Fair was first held in 1890 and named the “Morganza Fair” serving as many fairs did, to exhibit and sell sheep and cattle. Now, more than 130 years later, the annual event offers the full Washington County experience including live entertainment, 4-H displays, foods you can only find at the fair, and your favorite fair rides. Get your tickets here.
17. Lake George Art Project Wednesdays in the Park
The Lake George Art Project sponsors a Wednesday evening concert series in Shepards Park, and for 2024 they’ll be held on July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 14, 21, and 28 with a special Saturday show on June 29. This year’s lineup features The E-block, Angelina Valente and many others. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the night by the Queen of American Lakes!
18. Blind Owl Band
Based in Saranac Lake, The Blind Owl Band is a bluegrass/country/folk-rock band that formed in 2011 and includes Arthur Buezo (guitar, vocals), Christian Cardiello (bass), James Ford (banjo, vocals), and Eric Munley, (mandolin, vocals), who is now the proprietor of the Waterhole. The group met while studying at Paul Smith’s College and trace their name to an incident while performing at Paul Smith’s, when a saw-whet owl flew into a window. The owl got up and stared at the band for a moment before flying away, and with a saw-whet owl nicknamed a ‘blind owl’, the name stuck. Blind Owl Band now perform intermittently around the state, but bring a feisty sound and crowd with them in each performance.
19. Albany Civic Theatre
With an intent to provide education and training in acting, directing, writing, speech, staging, producing, reviewing, and other aspects of the dramatic arts, Albany Civic Theatre has a unique role in the 518, as they aim to encourage and foster community interest and participation in the dramatic arts through the non-profit sponsorship of plays, lectures, publications, workshops, study groups, drama libraries and related activities. Check out their upcoming season here.
20. Ophelia’s on Broadway
Replacing Parish Public House in Albany is Ophelia’s on Broadway, which boasts a return-to-roots feel, including an homage to Red Square (the name prior to Parish), a fresh menu and a perfect location for late night shows or continuing the party after Alive at 5 this summer.
21. WEXT
The Capital District has a great listener-supported roots and rock radio station in WEXT, with an eclectic, unique and diverse lineup of music. 97.7 FM and 106.1 WEXT from WMHT Educational Telecommunications with a goal to provide listeners with a unique listening experience with music that knows no boundary of genre. WEXT focuses on emerging artists, plus classic songs that regular radio has forgotten and especially music from the Local 518.
22. Park Theater Foundation
The Park Theater Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Glens Falls community by providing a venue for quality and affordable entertainment and educational opportunities in the performing arts. NYS Music is a proud sponsor of the Park Theater Foundation.
23. Glass Pony
Self-described as a high-energy psychedelic groove circus, Glass Pony has been turning heads and becoming a staple of the 518 since 2018. The four-piece band comprised of Chanda Dewey (drums), Eddie Hotaling (guitar, lead vocals), Jeff Picarazzi (bass), and Greg Pittz (lead guitar) combine for a continually unique and entertaining experience. Glass Pony live performances incorporate danceable grooves, interesting set lists, and creative and compelling improvisation with a wide variety of influences from 60’s and 70’s rock, 80’s post-punk and 90’s jamband. Catch them soon – check out their upcoming shows here.
24. John Brown song
Songs are often measured by their ability to stand the test of time. “John Brown’s Body” is one of those songs that has held up even into the present day. Although the tune has gone by many names and many iterations over the centuries, the hymn turned revolutionary anthem retains its status as one of the most memorable songs of the Civil War. Read more on the history of this Civil War era song from Ryan Bieber here.
25. SingleCut North Clifton Park
With a tap room in Astoria, as well as in Clifton Park, the delicious beer from SingleCut Tap Room features music from a variety of bands, with food trucks located outside for full enjoyment of tasty brews and music made right in the 518. Check out upcoming events here.
26. Blotto
What more can be said about arguably the biggest band to come from Albany? Blotto combined new wave and soul with R&B and comedic themes, and sported pseudonyms on recordings and on stage. You’d hear them on Dr. Demento‘s radio show in the early 80s, and the band was featured on MTV on the first day of broadcast, with the video for “I Wanna Be a Lifeguard” becoming infamous, rated by some as the worst music of all time, but featuring numerous locations across the 518 – watch for yourself and see how many you can spot!
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.
Folk/country artist Christian Parker has announced his upcoming album, Change is Now, set to release on March 22. The album pays tribute to some of The Byrds’ classic hits.
Christian Parker
The album, Change is Now is something of a power-folk medley. Each song has an energetic folk melody, but a very distinct sound that Christian Parker made his own. The album pays much homage to the Byrds’ classic hits like “Ballad of an Easy Rider,” “Chimes of Freedom,” and “The World Turns All Around Her.” You can very clearly hear Parker’s own original spin on the tunes.
Along with The Byrds, Parker has clear influence from other classic artists like The Beatles, Blue Oyster Cult, and of course, Bob Dylan. Each song on the album has its own spark, its own character and its own rhythmic flair. Some tunes on the album are perfect for a excited countryside drive, while some fit for a calm, hopeful campfire.
Christian Parker hails from Canton, New York up by the Canadian border. Parker’s dazzling collection of songs have been warming the hearts of listeners over the past 3 and a half decades. His music contains lyricism around emotion, tension, and hope, carried by chiming guitar, and unforgettable hooks.
Earl Poole Ball, one of the original Byrds studio members, joins Parker on the album. This addition adds another element of honor to the album already paying homage to The Byrds. The album’s folk-driven, country-twanged, and mainstream appeal brings people of all tastes together.
Earl Poole Ball
To learn more about Christian Parker, and to stream his upcoming album, Change is Now, click here.
Today is March 15, or, 315 Day. The “315” in Central New York State is so named for an area code established in 1947 covering 18 counties.
Stretching from the Canadian border west of the Adirondacks, the “315” follows the shores of Lake Ontario southwest towards Rochester, and south to the Allegheny Plateau. The “315” includes the cities of Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Cortland, Oswego, Saint Lawrence, Canton, Massena, Watertown and most of the Finger Lakes, as far west as Keuka Lake.
This significant portion of New York State is home to Syracuse University, an institution at the center of music in Central New York in terms of venues, students and alumni. Across the “315” are an immense number of artists and bands who have called the region home, dozens of music venues, classic music festivals, promoters and events that make the “315” a diverse median of a state rich in music history around every corner.
So to celebrate 315 Day (March 15), we begin a series of Three Hundred Fifteen things that make the “315” a great place for music.
graphic by Emily DePietro
Since we only had a week to work on this, instead of all Three Hundred Fifteen at once, we figured to start with 16, or about 5% of 315. Check out our 518 Day list and stay tuned for an annual update to each list (with 716 Day coming this summer!)
1. Empower FCU Amphitheater At Lakeview
Originally the site of a toxic waste dump, courtesy of Solvay Process Company that dumped soda ash on the site for decades, the venue sits on the shore of Onondaga Lake and if you didn’t read the first part of this sentence, you may never know what once lay beneath.
An exhilarating live music experience, Sophistafunk blends intoxicating beats, heavy synth basslines and funky vocals for a one of a kind performance. The group was selected by Guy Fieri to be house band on Guyâs Grocery Games and again on Guy’s Ultimate Game Night. Sophistafunk has performed across the country at venues, underground shows and music festivals, and continues to be the premier funk band from Central New York.
3. The SAMMYs
The Syracuse Area Music Awards were founded in 1993 by Frank Malfitano and have soldiered on every year since, having recently handed out the 31st annual awards on March 2, 2024. With People’s Choice Awards, live music from artists living in the greater Syracuse area, and a wealth of music history coming together on stage each year, the SAMMYs are at the core of the “315.”
4. Crane School of Music
Located at SUNY Potsdam, the Crane School of Music offers undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing performance and practice. The school’s symphony and chorus have performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, traveling internationally to Germany, Spain and even Cuba. With a legacy dating back to 1886, more than 300 concerts, recitals and lectures each year make the Crane School a hallmark music institution.
5. Earlville Opera House
Originally constructed back in 1892, the Earlville Opera House was destroyed twice by fire in its early years, with the current building standing strong for more than 125 years. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this landmark in a village of 800, Earlville Opera House is a Madison County gem, and founded as as not-for-profit, volunteer-based community organization in 1972.
6. Los Blancos
Blending blues, funk, R&B, zydeco and rock, Los Blancos have gained acclaim in Central New York, as well as sharing the stage with Little Feat, Los Lobos, Gov’t Mule, Merl Saunders, Hubert Sumlin. The group, consisting of Colin Aberdeen (electric guitar/vocals), Mark Nanni (keyboard/accordion/vocals), Steve Winston (bass/vocals) and Mark Tiffault (drums), can be found playing frequently at Shifty’s and 443 Social Club and Lounge.
7. moe.down
Starting in 2000, moe. began holding their own festival – moe.down – in Turin, NY at Snow Ridge Ski Area. The Labor Day Weekend festival brought together moe.’s peers in the jam community, rising artists from across the Northeast, as well as artists who influence moe.’s sound. After moving for two years to Gelston Castle in Mohawk, NY, the festival returned to Turin in 2012 and was held annually until 2014, since returning in 2017 and 2019. Read our history of moe.downs 1-15 here.
8. Stanley Theatre
Utica’s original movie palace, the Stanley Theatre opened in 1928 with capacity of nearly 3,000 and was designed by famed architect Thomas Lamb, who also designed the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Proctor’s in Schenectady and Landmark Theatre in Syracuse. The Stanley Theatre currently hosts concerts as well as a number of musicals, courtesy of Broadway Utica.
9. NYS Fair
The Great New York State Fair isn’t just rides, exhibits, a competitions for Best Milk in New York State, live music takes center stage at Chevy Court as well as the Grandstand (now Suburban Park). The original grandstand was demolished in 2016 to make way for an updated area that could continue to attract national artists during the annual state fair – the oldest of its kind, having been founded in 1832 by local farmers for agriculture and local fairs. Only in the 1950s did The Great New York State Fair begin to have a greater focus on music and entertainment to attract a new generation, appealing to families and the rise of pop culture. Check out last year’s lineup here.
10. Mike Powell
Hailing from West Carthage, NY in Jefferson County near Fort Drum, Mike Powell is not only a musician, but one of the greatest lacrosse players of all time. His jersey, #22, was retired in 2023 by Syracuse University, where he was a four-time All-American and holds the record for most career points.
Since graduating from Syracuse, Powell has released six albums and written more than 200 original songs, drawing on influences including Bob Dylan, John Prine and Woody Guthrie. Powell has performed with his group The Black River and, most recently, The Echo Sound, which is gaining acclaim across Central New York. An indie folk rock singer, Mike Powell’s sound and evolution from athlete to musician is among the greats to come from the “315” with many years of music yet to come.
11. Homer Center for the Arts
Located in a former Baptist church, Homer Center for the Arts was created as a way to save the building and provide something for the Homer community, just north of Cortland. And create a community they do – artists, musicians, workshops, galleries, community theater and film screenings make Homer Center for the Arts an institution supporting not just the Village of Homer, but the greater Central New York region as a whole.
12. Syracuse Stage
Syracuse Stage, a professional theatre company that has produced plays since 1974, the Stage celebrates their 50th anniversary in the 2023-24 season, now underway. Connected to Syracuse University with the Drama Department, students are cast in plays and musicals, as well as hold Black Box shows, all under the direction and guidance of professors and professionals who make Syracuse Stage a connection between the city and university, with events open to the public.
courtesy of Syracuse University
13. The Birdseed Bandits
Comprised of Adam Ludemann, Seth Becker, and Nash Robb, The Birdseed Bandits released their eponymous debut album in 2013, a collection of “greatest hits” from the band’s first two years together. Forming a unique style that has catchy, foot-stomping, mug-waving folk/rock songs through the use of banjo, mandolin, guitar and upright bass, Birdseed Bandits stopped performing in 2014, but left a mark on the Central New York music scene in their time together.
14. The Yard Amphitheater
An outdoor music venue at Ray Brothers BBQ in Bouckville, NY, The Yard Amphitheatre has become a rural destination for live music acts including Ryan Montbleau, Martin Sexton, Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams and many more. With a capacity of 1,500 and great barbeque right next door, The Yard is a must-visit destination venue. Check out their 2024 shows here.
15. Crouse Chimemasters
For anyone having lived close to the west side of Syracuse University’s campus, or been a student walking the SU campus around 8am, 11:45am or 6pm, you will have heard the bells of Crouse College ringing, and inside is a tradition that dates back in 1889. The Syracuse Chimemasters create daily melodies thrice daily working with a system of levers and pulleys that ring the 14 bells in the belfry of Crouse College. You might hear anything from “Mamma Mia” to Star Wars selections, as well as solemn and classical music, from these seasoned veterans who rock the bells for 135 years and counting.
16. Smith Opera House
Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Smith Opera House has offered performing arts and cultural events since 1894. The interior was restored in the early 1990s, playing host to numerous artists including Phish, Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, as well as live events from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva Music Festival and much more.
Ed note: a new area code – 680 – is popping up in the 315 – as the population of the region expands. While we welcome a challenge to find Six Hundred Eighty things that make this region the best for music, we’re focusing on the classic 315 area code, for brevity’s sake.
From the soothing melodies of outdoor concerts along the St. Lawrence River to the vibrant tunes resonating in cozy venues offering craft beers and fine wines in the Adirondacks, the North Country of New York has a music scene that caters to a diverse audience. Here’s where you can immerse yourself in live music, ranging from concerts and karaoke to performances by touring artists.
Discover the historical charm of this theater, welcoming audiences since 1903. Following a $3.2 million renovation in 2007, Clayton Opera House offers a year-round calendar featuring nationally and internationally recognized artists, spanning genres from bluegrass to classical concerts.
Step into the Paddock Club’s inviting ambiance, adorned with Tiffany lamps, leather sofas, and tin ceilings. Situated in the country’s oldest indoor mall, the Paddock Club offers a diverse entertainment calendar featuring karaoke, jam sessions, DJs, and live performances.
Originally built in 1939, the Kallet Theater has transformed into a venue hosting concerts and community events. Catch upcoming performances featuring national recording artists like Marc Cohn, Selwyn Birchwood, The Grascals, and Enter the Haggis.
Run by students on the St. Lawrence University campus, The Java Barn hosts free weekly concerts, open mic nights, and larger events. Past performances include renowned artists like Dave Matthews, Grace Potter, Guster, and more.
Boasting a 97,000-square-foot facility, this venue is a hub for performances from the acclaimed Crane School of Music, the Department of Theater and Dance, and the Orchestra of Northern New York. The annual Community Performing Arts series brings touring artists to Potsdam.
Find entertainment at Cascades Lounge with country karaoke and DJ dance parties, while the events center hosts performances by national recording artists.
The Lake Placid Center for the Arts presents music, dance, and theatre performances year-round. Each season, the music series offers performances in a wide variety of genres: pop, jazz, indie folk, classical, Broadway hits, and more.
Retro Live is a dance club, hot spot, and live music venue with a great bar. Live bands perform every Saturday, and the open space makes for great acoustics and a fantastic dance floor with good views of the stage. If you’re looking for a live music venue with a mechanical bull, this is the place for you.
The Midnight Revival Band, Retro Live. Photo by Frankie Cavone
This North Country theatre is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Strand Center Theatre was built as a vaudeville theatre in 1924. The beautiful space has seating for 950 people and regularly hosts performances by touring musicians, from duets to orchestras.
This community art center offers musical performances year-round in a hip and funky atmosphere. Also offered: theatre, poetry, comedy, community meetings, art shows, art classes, and more!
This building is over 100 years old, and regularly hosts regionally and nationally known musicians for concerts and shows. Visitors love the vibe and acoustics of the historic, open space. The Whallonsburg Grange is a great place to hear folk, bluegrass, and Celtic music, although you’ll find other genres as well!
Smoke Signals is a popular BBQ restaurant and bar in Lake Placid with a fun atmosphere, breathtaking views of the lake, AND two spaces for musical performances. You’ll find regional and North Country local bands playing here almost every weekend.
A beloved spot among both locals and tourists, The Waterhole invites you to experience its dynamic music scene. Whether you choose the indoor setting or the outdoor areas, this live music venue promises a diverse lineup of musicians. With its Party On The Patio series, The Waterhole comes alive, especially during the vibrant summer months.
Voted among the Adirondacks’ Top 5 Best Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries, Raquette River Brewing offers more than just exceptional local beer and delectable food. Revel in live music both outside in the pavilion and inside the cozy tasting room. Perfect for enthusiasts of both craft beer and soulful tunes, this venue creates a harmonious blend.
Elevate your date night with live music at barVino, a family-owned wine bar and restaurant in North Creek in North Country. With an impressive beer menu and an intimate setting, this venue provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of good food and captivating local artists.
Delight in the free summer music series, Songs At Mirror Lake, hosted at Mids Park every Tuesday at 7 PM. Immerse yourself in the melodies performed on a beautiful stage, creating a captivating atmosphere in this popular waterfront park on Main Street in Lake Placid.
A hometown restaurant in Plattsburgh, Olive Ridley’s is well known for weekly entertainment, delicious food and great drinks. Check their calendar for up to date shows you can catch after dinner or watching the big game.
P-2’s Irish Pub has the slogan, “The Place to Be in the Adirondacks!” and following being closed during the pandemic for 13 months, a new slogan – “The Place You Leave Smiling Bigger Than You Arrived!” – is fitting for the vibe of the crowd in this underrated Adirondack town. With a love of live music and talent from around the U.S. and Canada, a new bandshell provides a home venue for talented musicians.
Whether youâre looking for a night of family fun in the bowling alley, or catching a game and enjoying a tasty burger at the bar, Big Zâs Hangout is a go-to destination. A newly renovated space offers a fun, comfortable and engaging environment for visitors and members of the community to enjoy themselves. From live music in the bar to concerts in the parking lot, Big Zâs is where the partyâs at in Lake Placid.
Beck’s Tavern, bar and yurts are located right next to the Gore Mountain Lodge, serving German inspired fare and American favorites, with live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Located in the “Biggest Little Town in New York State” in downtown Stony Creek, the Inn is nestled in the hub of the Southern Adirondack mountains within a half hour of Lake George, Queensbury, Glens Falls, Saratoga or the Gore Mountain Region. For 35 years, the owners have provided a unique establishment with simple roots; good food & music, reasonable prices & a comfortable friendly setting to relax and enjoy family and friends.
Daikers is a restaurant and bar located in the heart of the Central Adirondack Mountains. Enjoy live music, great food and drinks while overlooking Fourth Lake.
The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts produces professional theatre, concerts as part of our Weekend Series, artist exhibits in three galleries, youth and adult arts-education workshops, and grant opportunities for art and cultural organizations and teaching artists. The Arts Center is coordinator for the Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) for the four-county region of Hamilton, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex counties.
The mission of the View Arts Center in Old Forge is to create a dynamic center for arts and culture based in the Adirondack Region, with a focus on enrich, educate, entertain, and inspire.
Rudy’s Scar Bar and Grille is a spin-off of Flagship Rudyâs Lakeside Drive-In, located on the shore of the Great Lake Ontario, in Oswego. The mountain pub version stays true to core concepts and menu favorites, with great live music on a regular basis. Fun fact: Scar Bar is named in homage to Scarface Mountain, one of the Saranac 6er peaks in the Adirondacks.
Within the walls of this legendary bar & grill lies a fifteen foot oak bar, oak-paneled walls/cabinets and even an old-school bracketed television. Notoriously, decadent tales of grandeur continue to swirl atop the Monopole. Those incredibly potent folktales attracted original visitors and turned them into repeat customers, along with regular live music upstairs from rising acts in the Northeast, and some big names who have passed through the famous venue.
The Edwards Town Hall Opera House is an architecturally unique theater seating about 275 people, with superb acoustics, raked auditorium and raised stage floor, with its original painted front curtain well preserved and still in place. This venue is an unusually intact example of a type of facility no longer surviving in most small towns in Northern New York.
The Upper Jay Art Center was founded by Scott and Byron Renderer in 2005 as a place to enjoy music, theater, and visual art. In 2008, it incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and, with a wink and a nod the brothers, upholsterers by trade, named the performance space the Recovery Lounge. Over the past decade, the Lounge has become an essential gathering place in the Ausable River Valley, featuring plays by classic and contemporary playwrights, acted by an ever expanding troupe of local talent, play and poetry readings, performance art, dance, and art exhibits. All events are affordable and many are free.
Located in the heart of the Champlain Valley, Ausable Brewing Company is a small farm based nanobrewery, brewing a variety of small batch artisan ales and sodas, and hosting local food trucks and live music all summer long.
Tannery Pond Center in North Creek is dedicated to enriching lives with quality arts programming and a welcoming community center. TPC presents a full schedule of arts programming, including exhibits of original art, musical concerts and performances, as well as workshops and childrenâs programs. Other groups presenting arts programs at the center include Our Town Theatre Group, North Country Singers, and Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.
Paradox Brewery is a certified veteran owned, independent craft brewery founded in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains brewing innovative beer of the highest quality. You can find live music in their taproom on weekends, as well as open mic nights, especially in the summer months.
20 Main has long been a staple of the Au Sable Forks and surrounding communities. Welcoming townspeople, visitors from all over the globe, bikers and a range of musicians and other entertainment, 20 Main Bar as well as host community fundraisers for Christmas in the Forks and other local charities. With a new outdoor space behind the main bar with sound stage, garden area, and a light, friendly atmosphere, its a great place for live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Located near Gore Mountain, Basil and Wick’s has recently reopened, offering traditional American comfort fare, classic cocktails in a warm, homey location. Plenty of music is on tap – open mics, karaoke, or local musicians performing après ski.
Just north of Saranac Lake in the small town of Bloomingdale is Hex and Hop, creating delicious craft beers and meads in the hear of the Adirondack Park. In the summer, outdoor live music can be enjoyed at Hex and Hop, as you take in the crisp Adirondack mountain air with a side of craft beer & good tunes from bands and solo artists all summer long.
A newly opened venue in Saranac Lake, The Garagery is holds the Saranac Lake Hootenanny each Monday night, hosted by Charlie Reinersten, offering a vibrant musical experience in collaboration with Twolined Studio. Musicians are welcome every Monday from 6:30-10:00 pm for a night of featured artists, and open mic performances.
The Mill, as suggested by the name, was originally built in 1952 as a grain mill for the Champlain Valley Seed Cooperative. In 2021, the abandoned building was repurchased and in a collaborative effort between creative director Taylor Haskins and local contractors, they rebuilt the building up as a new cultural hub. For visitors looking for a drink and a bite to eat, The Knock is a speakeasy inside the venue that has a sultry 1920âs prohibition aesthetic. The menu of small plates made in house are all created from locally sourced ingredients.
The Hub is a cafe, restaurant, lounge, bar, and bike repair shop focused on serving Lake George, Brant Lake, Loon Lake, Friends Lake, and Schroon Lake.
