Albany’s Alive at Five Concert Series Announced
The schedule for the 2015 Alive at Five concert series has been announced, and it’s looking like a mighty fine season of free music down by the river.
There are a total of eight concerts slated to take place at Jennings Landing (formerly Riverfront Park) in Albany’s Corning Preserve at 5pm on Thursdays from June 11 through August 6. The rain location for the concerts is the Corning Preserve Boat Launch, located under the I-787 overpass at Colonie & Water Streets.
Here’s the complete schedule for the City of Albany’s 2015 Alive at Five free concert season:
THE BAD PLUS JOSHUA REDMAN
With the Chronicles
Thursday, June 11, 5pm
The eclectic post-modern piano trio is joined by the acclaimed saxman in support of their upcoming self-titled album, slated for release on May 26.
CHRISETTE MICHELE
With Bell’s Roar
Thursday, June 18, 5pm
The acclaimed Grammy-winning soul/R&B singer – who has collaborated with hip-hop superstars like Jay Z, Nas and the Roots – steps into the spotlight in support of her latest album, Better.
J RODDY WALSTON & THE BUSINESS
With Avers
Thursday, June 25, 5pm
Virginia-based southern rockers – who have shared stages with everyone from Eric Church to the Replacements – take the stage in support of their latest album Essential Tremors.
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND
With the Blind Owl Band
Thursday, July 9, 5pm
For more than a decade and a half, the Colorado-based band has been pushing the envelope of bluesgrass and new acoustic music. And now they’ve just upped the ante with the new addition of violinist Allie Kral and mandolin virtuoso Jacob Jolliff.
ATLAS GENIUS
With Rival Galaxies
Thursday, July 16, 5pm
Led by brothers Keith and Michael Jeffery (guitar/vocals and drums, respectively), the Australian alt-rockers roll into town in support of their upcoming sophomore album.
THE EDGAR WINTER BAND
With Charmboy
Thursday, July 23, 5pm
The multi-talented classic rocker rips it up as he roars through his deep songbag from “Frankenstein” to “Free Ride.”
RAELYNN
With Big Sky Country
Thursday, July 30, 5pm
Country music comes to the city with the alum of season two of NBC-TV’s hit singing competition, “The Voice.”
BLUE OYSTER CULT
With Blotto
Thursday, August 6, 5pm
The thinking man’s metal band teams up with Nippertown’s own merry pranksters of pop for a reunion of the infamous Blot & Blue Tour of 1983 and their joint Alive at Five concert of 1996.
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What no blues night? WTF?
Kudos to albany for not being afraid to have real bands of a variety of genres, as opposed to tribute bands and has-beens that appeal to the lowest common denominator.
The lack of a blues/zydeco concert is outrageous indeed. It would have been enlightened for Albany to get a night with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Geno Delafose, or Shemekia Copeland paired with some of the superb blues bands in the area like Scotty Mac and the Rockin’ Bonnevilles, Matt Mirabile and Alison Jacobs. That being said, I look forward to hearing Redman/Chronicles, Winter, and the mighty Blotto.