Real Good for FREE: The Dana Park Concert Series @ Dana Park, Albany

It’s the tiny little pocket park located at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Lark Street in Albany, but Dana Park will be swelling with some great sounds this summer, as it plays host to a series of eight free outdoor acoustic concerts sponsored by the Aurora Foundation of NorthEast, Inc.

The third annual Dana Park Concert Series kicks off with the special double-bill of the New York Jazz Duo and Citizen Genet at 6pm tonight (Monday, July 9).

All concerts in the series will begin at 7pm on Mondays, except where noted. Bring a chair. Bring a blanket. Or as John Hiatt says, “Bring the family.” The rain site for the concerts is Justin’s in Albany (just across the street on Lark Street).

Here’s the schedule of free performances for the summer of 2012:

July 9 (6pm): New York Jazz Duo. With Citizen Genet.

July 16: Kyle James Miller

July 23: Nine Votes Short (unplugged)

July 30: The Sunny Side of the Street Band

August 6: Ramblin Jug Stompers

August 13: The Pine Hills String Band

August 20: John Heddy & Chris Dogias

August 27: Annie & the Hedonists

The Dana Park concerts will run til 9pm. but the party continues each Monday with free music at Justin’s starting at 10pm, making your Monday nights into free music double-headers.

The line-up of performers at Justin’s features:

July 9: Carl Daniels & Anna French
July 16: Rhythm Driven Coalition
July 23: James King & Victor Gagnon
July 30: Pat Tiernan
August 6: TBA
August 13: Musical comedy featuring members of Mirk
August 20: Steve Candlen
August 27: Heavy Soul

ADDITIONAL REAL GOOD FOR FREE EVENTS:

New York State Summer Writers Institute @ Skidmore College’s Davis Auditorium, Saratoga Springs (weekdays through July 27)
Freedom Park Concert Series @ Freedom Park, Scotia (various days thru August 29)
Performing Arts at the Common @ Clifton Common Stage, Clifton Park (various days thru August 26)
Music in the Park @ Schodack Town Park, Schodack (Tuesdays thru July 10)
Concerts On the Lawn @ the Clark Art Institute, Williamstown (Tuesdays thru July 24)
Cook Park Concert Series @ Cook Park, Colonie (Tuesdays thru August 28)
Sounds of Summer @ VFW Hall, Great Barrington (Tuesdays thru August 28)
Summer Concert Series @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Wednesdays thru August 29)
Rockin’ On the River @ Green Island Bridge parking lot, Troy (Wednesdays thru August 29)
Music in the Park @ the North End Firehouse, Rensselaer (Wednesdays thru August 29)
Jazz On Jay @ Jay Street, Schenectady (Thursdays thru August 30)
Alive at Five @ Riverfront Park, Albany (Thursdays thru August 9)
Music in the Garden @ Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, Clifton Park (August 3)
Backlot Music Festival @ Waterford Public Library, Waterford (Thursdays thru July 26)
Guilderland Performing Arts Center @ Tawasentha Park, Guilderland (Thursdays thru August 23)
Concerts in the Park @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa (Thursdays thru August 30)
Music in the Park @ Dutchman’s Landing, Catskill (Thursdays thru August 30)
Fridays at the Lake @ Shepard Park, Lake George (Fridays thru September 7)
Music at Sunset @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson (Fridays thru August 31)
Upbeat On the Roof @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs (Fridays thru August 31)
Canal Square Summer Concerts @ Canal Square, Cohoes (Fridays thru August 31)
Garage Bands in the Garage @ Albany Public Library, Albany (select Fridays thru September 21)
The Summer Sounds of Salem @ the Train Depot Green, Salem, (Saturdays thru September 1)
Riverlink Summer Concert Series @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam (Saturdays thru August 25)
Poets in the Park @ Washington Park, Albany (Saturdays thru July 28)
Powers Park Concert Series @ Powers Park, Troy (Saturdays in July and August)
McDonald’s African American Family Day @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, Saturday, August 4
Empire State Plaza Food Festival @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, Wednesday, August 15
Local Legends Live @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, Saturday, September 8
Hannaford Hispanic Heritage Celebration @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, Saturday, September 22