Real Good for Free: PearlPalooza @ Albany’s North Pearl Street, 9/24/11

Well, it looks like PearlPalooza really is back again.

Co-sponsored by WEQX-FM and Pearl Street Entertainment, the North Pearl Street music and arts festival is coming back for its second year from 12noon-9pm on Saturday, September 24.

Last year’s fest was headlined by Rusted Root, but it took place over the Fourth of July weekend, and attendance didn’t meet expectations. Fortunately, the organizers have moved the date for the second annual street fest, and the crowds should be out in full force – if they’ve had time to recover from the previous weekend’s LarkFest celebration.

At PearlPalooza there will be two stages for music. And, yes, admission is free.

Here is the line-up for the Main Stage bands:

MUTEMATH: Declared by The Alternative Press as “the #1 band you need to see live before you die,” they’ve performed at some of the country’s largest festivals including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Coachella. Hopefully, they’ll sneak preview some of the tunes from the upcoming album “Odd Soul,” slated for release on October 4.

COMPANY OF THIEVES: The soulful Chicago-based band returns to Nippertown, showcasing tunes from their new album, “Running From a Gamble.”

DOM: The Worcester-based band showcases their fuzzy, lo-fi alt-pop in support of their new EP, “Family of Love.”

BLACK TAXI: The Brooklyn-based indie rockers call their sound Grit-Pop.

A MILLION YEARS: Another Brooklyn-based band churning up guitar-driven indie rock in support of their debut album, “Mischief Maker.”

Additional main stage acts will be announced soon…

Meanwhile, PearlPalooza’s second stage will be devoted to shining a spotlight on hometown Nippertown bands. The line-up will feature the diverse sounds of Ten Year Vamp, Around the World and Back, Wild Adriatic, Black Mountain Symphony and Timbre Coup.

MORE REAL GOOD FOR FREE SHOWS, 2011:

Freedom Park, Scotia (7pm on various days)
Free Dance Performances @ Jacob’s Pillow, Beckett (6:15pm on various days)
Free Summer Theater @ various locations (various days)
Pine Hills Monday Summer Concert Series @ the Elks Club, Albany (7pm on Mondays)
Monday Night Concerts in the Park @ Veteran’s Memorial Field, Thurman (7pm on Mondays)
Live at the Bearsville Theater @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock (8pm on Mondays)
Music in the Park @ Riverfront Park, Rensselaer (6pm on Tuesdays)
Summer Concert Series @ Brunswick Family Community Center, Brunswick (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
Tuesday Nights in the Park @ Cook Park, Colonie (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
The SCA Summer Concert Series @ the Outdoor Entertainment Center, South Glens Falls (6:30pm on Tuesdays)
Music in the Park @ Stony Creek Town Park, Stony Creek (7pm on Tuesdays)
Summer Concert Series @ Congress Park, Saratoga Springs (7pm on Tuesdays)
September in the City @ Tricentennial Park, Albany (11:30am on Wednesdays)
Rockin’ On the River @ the Hedley District Riverfront Parking Lot, River St., Troy (5pm on Wednesdays)
Live On the Lake @ Burbank Park, Pittsfield (6pm on Wednesdays)
Lake George Summer Concert Series @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7:30pm on Wednesdays)
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (12noon on Thursdays)
Jammin’ On Maple Street @ City Park, Glens Falls (5pm on Thursdays)
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa (6pm on Thursdays)
Backlot Music Series @ Waterford Public Library, Waterford (6pm on Thursdays)
Party in the Park @ Noel Field, North Adams (6pm on Thursdays)
Schaghticoke Community Concerts @ Schaghticoke Town Hall Gazebo, Melrose (6:30pm on Thursdays)
Music in the Park @ Dutchman’s Landing, Catskill (7pm on Thursdays)
Guilderland Performing Arts Center @ Tawasentha Park, Guilderland (7:30pm on Thursdays)
Garage Bands In the Garage @ Albany Public Library, Albany (6pm on the third Friday of the month)
UpBeat on the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (7pm on Fridays)
Improv Records’ Free Fridays @ Shepard Park, Lake George (7pm on Fridays)
Music at Sunset @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson (7pm on Fridays)
Concerts in the Park @ Riverfront Part, Athens (7pm on Fridays)
Canal Square Summer Concert Series @ Canal Square, Cohoes (7pm on Fridays)
Outdoor Films @ the Shirt Factory, Glens Falls (dusk on Fridays)
Summer Sounds of Salem @ the Main Street Gazebo, Salem (11am on Saturdays)
Powers Park Concert Series @ Powers Park, Troy (6pm on Saturdays)
Riverlink Concert Series @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam (7pm on Saturdays)
Concerts in the Park @ Riverside Park, Coxsackie (6pm on Sundays)
Music Haven Concert Series @ Central Park’s Music Haven, Schenectady (7pm on Sundays)
Performing Arts at the Common @ the Clifton Park Common, Clifton Park (7pm on Sundays)
Sirsy @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs (8pm on Sundays)
Frequency North Reading Series @ the College of Saint Rose, Albany (various days)
Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival @ Corning Preserve’s Riverfront Park, Albany (Saturday, September 10)
LarkFest @ Lark Street, Albany (Saturday, September 17)
Jazz at the Lake: Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18)