Real Good for Free: Albany’s Alive at Five @ Riverfront Park

The City of Albany’s Alive at Five concert series will once again offer 10 concerts throughout the summer months. Beginning on June 2, the shows will take place at 5pm on Thursdays at Riverfront Park in Albany’s Corning Preserve.

Admission, of course, is free.

And here’s the schedule of bands:

JUNE 2: VERTICAL HORIZON. With MIRK
The multi-platinum band behind the hits “Everything You Want,” “You’re
a God” and “Best I Ever Had (Gray Sky Morning)” lands in Nippertown in support of their latest album, “Burning the Days.”

JUNE 9: THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND. With COLLETTE & THE MUDCATS
The country rock vets crank out “Heard it in a Love Song,” “Can’t You See,” “Desert Sky,” “Fire on the
Mountain” and more…

JUNE 16: 10,000 MANIACS. With THE ERIN HARKES BAND
Led by violaist and vocalist Mary Ramsey, Jamestown’s most famous breakout band celebrates their 30th anniversary. Who knows? Maybe Natalie Merhcant will show up, too…

JUNE 23: MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS. With THE NEW YORK FUNK EXCHANGE
Reeves’ soulful voice helped put the Motown sound on the musical map with such classic ’60s soul-pop hits as “Heat Wave”, “Jimmy Mack” and their signature “Dancing in the Streets.”

JUNE 30: THOMPSON SQUARE. With THE HILLBILLY HORNS
Country music comes to the city, as the husband-and-wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson serve up their No. 1 hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?”

JULY 7: BURTON CUMMINGS. With SLY FOX & THE HUSTLERS
The voice of the Guess Who was at the microphone for such smash hits as “American Woman,” “These Eyes” and “No Time.”

JULY 14: CARBON LEAF. With ENTER THE HAGGIS
It’s Irish Music Night, as two high-energy Irish rock bands share the stage.

JULY 21: KANSAS. With SPACELAND
The veteran progressive rock band from Topeka rumbles through their catalog of classic-rock standards, including “Dust in the Wind” and “Carry On Wayward Son.”

JULY 28: PARROTBEACH. With THE ELECTRIC CITY HORNS
Break out the flip-flops and cheeseburgers. It’s Jimmy Buffett tribute time. Now if only they would serve margaritas at the beer stand…

AUGUST 4: ED KOWALCZYK. With MISSION HILL
The former lead singer of the multi-platinum rock band Live, Kowalczyk will power through the old hits (“Lightning Crashes,” “I Alone,” “All Over You”), as well as selections from his solo debut “Alive.”

MORE REAL GOOD FOR FREE SHOWS, 2011:

Albany Tulip Festival @ Washington Park, Albany (Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8)
Summer Sounds of Salem, Main Street Gazebo, Salem (11am on Saturdays)
Art On Lark @ Lark Street, Albany (Saturday, June 11)
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie, (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
Skidmore Summer Jazz Institute Concert Series @ Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, Saratoga Springs
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon on Thursdays)
Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm on various days)
Jazz at the Lake: Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18)