Real Good for Free: African American Family Day @ Empire State Plaza, 8/7/10

Yes, with the threat of state-worker layoffs hanging overhead, the schedule of free shows at the Empire State Plaza has been slashed to a bare minimum this year. But corporate sponsors – McDonald’s, in this case – have stepped in to fund the few shows left on the summer calendar.

African American Family Day takes over the plaza from 12noon-7pm on Saturday. From old-school soul and funk to hip-hop, from gospel to jazz master Norman Connors, the line-up features a wide diversity of sounds.

Here’s the schedule of music and entertainment for the Main Stage:

12noon: Welcoming remarks, blessing and national anthem
12:15pm: Dance-Off Tribute to Michael Jackson
12:30pm: Community Stage Audition Winner (Division 1)
12:45 pm: Too Deep Entertainment’s “Dreams”
1:30pm: The Funk Merchants
2pm: Community Stage Audition Winner (Division 2)
2:45pm: Antonia Brown
3:30pm: African American veterans tribute
4pm: Community State Audition Winner (Division 3)
4:10pm: Range
4:30pm: The Powerhouse Funk Band
5:45pm: Norman Connors
6:45pm: Electric slide

There are also plenty of additional activities throughout the festival, including performances on the Gospel Stage, the Community Stage and the children’s area.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED: REAL GOOD FOR FREE:

The Freedom Park Concert Series @ Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm various days)
Thurman Summer Concert Series @ Veterans’ Memorial Field, Athol (7pm Mondays)
[email protected] Concert Series @ Hanna Park, Utica (8pm Mondays)
Music in the Park @ Onderdonk Park, East Greenbush (6pm Tuesdays)
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie (6:30pm Tuesdays)
Niskayuna Free Concert Series @ the Town Gazebo, Niskayuna (7pm Tuesdays)
Music in the Park @ Stony Creek Park, Stony Creek (7pm Tuesdays)
Music On Main Street @ NBT Bank, Canajoharie (7pm Tuesdays)
Altamont Free Library Concert Series @ Orsini Park, Altamont (7pm Tuesdays)
Brunswick Summer Concert Series @ Brunswick Community Center, Troy (7pm Tuesdays)
Bolton Summer Concerts in the Park @ Rogers Memorial Park, Bolton Landing (7:15pm Tuesdays)
Rockin’ On the River @ River Street, Troy (5pm Wednesdays)
Halfmoon Summer Concert Series @ Town Hall Courtyard, Halfmoon (6pm Wednesdays)
Live On the Lake @ Burbank Park at Onata Lake, Pittsfield (6pm Wednesdays)
Summer Music Series @ East Greenbush Community Library, East Greenbush (7pm Wednesdays)
Sharon Springs Summer Concert Series @ Chalybeate Park, Sharon Springs (7pm Wednesdays)
Lake George Arts Project Summer Concerts @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7:30pm Wednesdays)
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon Thursdays)
Alive at 5 @ Riverfront Park, Albany (5pm Thursdays)
Tiki Thursdays @ the Piggy Bank, Beacon (6pm Thursdays)
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa (6pm Thursdays)
Schaghticoke Summer Eve Concerts @ the Schaghticoke Town Hall Gazebo, Melrose (6:30pm Thursdays)
Summer Concert Series @ the Town Common, South Hadley (6:30pm Thursdays)
Sunset Concert Series @ Dynamite Hill Recreation Area, Chestertown (7pm Thursdays)
Music in the Park @ Dutchman’s Landing Park, Catskill (7pm Thursdays)
At the Pavilion in the Park @ Lake Luzerne Paviilion Park, Lake Luzerne (7pm Thursdays)
Guilderland Performing Arts Center @ Tawasentha Park, Guilderland (7:30pm Thursdays)
Garage Bands in the Garage @ the Albany Public Library, Albany (6pm Fridays)
Canal Square Concert Series @ Canal Square, Cohoes (6:30pm Fridays)
Upbeat on the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (7pm Fridays)
Improv Records’ Free Fridays @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7pm Fridays)
Concerts in the Park @ Riverfront Park, Athens (7pm Fridays)
Music in the Park @ Smead Park, Hadley (7pm Fridays)
Summer Sounds of Salem @ Main Street Gazebo, Salem (11am Saturdays)
Powers Park Concert Series @ Powers Park, Troy (6pm Saturdays)
Hudson Harbor Fest @ Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson (6:30pm Saturdays)
The Riverlink Concerts @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam (7pm Saturdays)
Music in the Park @ Grafton Lakes State Park, Grafton (5:30pm Sundays)
Music at the Gazebo @ the Town Hall Gazebo, North Greenbush (6pm Sundays)
Music in the Park @ Butler Park, Averill Park (6pm Sundays)
Music Haven Stage @ Central Park, Schenectady (7pm Sundays)
Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Saturday-Sunday, September 18-19)