Captial Region has many free concert events this summer
CAPITALREGION, N.Y. » Music-lovers on a budget have plenty of places to catch some live entertainment this summer, with free concerts happening all around the region.
There’s definitely no shortage of free live music this summer in the Capital District, including not only local acts, but some that are stopping through while touring the nation.
A variety of area outdoor venues will host these artists in the coming weeks and months for local audiences to enjoy.
Beginning this week, thousands start flocking to the Collar City each Wednesday night for Rockin’ on the River, a free concert series held each summer at Riverfront Park in Troy. Anticipated crowd favorites among the lineup this year include local country rockers Skeeter Creek, indie sensation Rubblebucket and returning tribute band Almost Queen. This nineweek summer series gives music fans a wonderful excuse to stay out and about on a Wednesday night in downtown Troy, attracting 5,000 to 10,000 guests per night.
The Hudson River’s waterfront is also the setting for another major concert series in the Capital City. Each Thursday night, beginning this week, the Alive at Five concert series presents a new act at Jennings Landing. On the bill this year, Alive at Five’s 29th season, are Great White, Matisyahu, B.B. King’s Blues Band, Sir Sly and Big Daddy Kane, among others.
The series with the most unique spot, however, is the Upbeat on the Roof concerts in Saratoga Springs. These shows, held on Thursdays in July and August, are presented on the distinctive rooftop deck of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery on the Skidmore College campus. Playing this one- of-a-kind gig for summer 2018 are artists like Girl Blue, Wurliday, Golfstrom, Bear Grass and Taina Asili.
A second Spa City series on the summer schedule is the Saratoga Summer Concert Series in Congress Park. Guests are invited to bring their friends, family, blankets and chairs to the park’s War Memorial on Sundays in July, then Tuesdays in August for free live entertainment by local stars such as Garland Nelson, Hot Club of Sara-
toga, Cryin’ Out Loud and Fenimore Blues.
Those seeking big name acts like En Vogue, Blue Öyster Cult and Grand Funk Railroad and Smash Mouth should make plans to get to the Empire State Plaza for its Capital Concert Series events on Wednesdays in July.
One of the region’s biggest venues, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, is also opening its gates for a couple free shows this summer. The Caffè Lena @ SPAC series is returning with two concerts featuring American roots genre music. Darlingside and Heard are the headlining bands, scheduled to play in June and July respectively on the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage on the SPAC grounds. In addition to these six free summer concert series, many smaller communities have their own lineups of hometown artists slated to perform throughout the summer. Some of these include the Powers Park Concert Series in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood, Concerts in the Park at the quaint Wiswall Park in the village of Ballston Spa, Rock the Block in downtown Cohoes the Music Haven Concert Series in Schenectady’s Central Park, the Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series in downtown Troy, the Freedom Park Summer Concert Series on the Mohawk River in Scotia, a new Harbor Jam concert series by the Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady and a popular summer series in North Greenbush.
With money as no object, the Capital Region certainly offers plenty of options for concert- goers to take in some live entertainment this summer - all without spending a dime.