FREE: Summer at the Plaza Concert Series Announced

The Wednesday evening At the Plaza concert series returns to the Empire State Plaza this summer, and now that the NYS Museum steps renovations are complete, the concerts are moving back to the south end of the plaza after being temporarily relocated to the north end last summer.

Here are the details of the five At the Plaza Wednesday night concerts for 2016:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 5pm: JAZZ NIGHT
RACHELLE FERRELL, CYRUS CHESTNUT
With OUT OF THE BOX
Having sung backup for Lou Rawls, Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, and George Duke, Rachelle Ferrell is now considered one of the most dynamic talents in contemporary pop music, having a potent combination of range, phrasing, and musicianship. Although Ferrell has captured the jazz public’s attention as a vocalist, she continues to compose and write songs on piano and violin. Cyrus Chestnut has earned a reputation as a jazz pianist for his skillful versatility, his ability for blending sounds, and for unabashedly bringing gospel into the club performances he gives. He takes jazz very seriously and believes it has great staying power.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 5pm: LEGENDARY SONS NIGHT
SHOOTER JENNINGS, DEVON ALLMAN
With THE MALLETT BROTHERS
The only son of country legends Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings spent his childhood on a tour bus. Jennings has worn many hats throughout his career: the self-described “son of a rebel saint,” is known for his forays as a singer-songwriter into country music, country rock, and psychedelic rock. With opening acts: Devon Allman, son of famed musician Gregg Allman.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 5pm: REGGAE NIGHT
BERES HAMMOND
With THE BIG TAKEOVER
Over the course of a 40-year career, Beres Hammond has poured his smoky-sweet voice — an instrument of subtlety and power reminiscent of an Otis Redding or a Teddy Pendergrass — over every kind of reggae and dancehall track, from the funked-up reggae jams of the ’70s fusion band Zap Pow to the lush instrumentation of his 1976 album “Soul Reggae,” to the spare digital beat of his 1985 dancehall breakthrough “What One Dance Can Do.” Performing with Hammond are DJ Inferno and The Harmony House Singers.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 5pm: CLASSIC ROCK NIGHT
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS featuring BO BICE & DYLAN ELISE
With SUPER 400
Like a great baseball team, the members of Blood Sweat and Tears change, but the soul lives on. Though many wonderful musicians have passed through BS&T, the musicianship stands the test of time. With hits such as “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” and “Spinning Wheel,” BS&T is considered one of the hottest touring acts in the world. The band now features Bo Bice of “American Idol” fame as the lead singer.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 5pm: RHYTHM & BLUES NIGHT
BLACK JOE LEWIS & THE HONEYBEARS
With SONNY KNIGHT & THE LAKERS
Austin-based Black Joe Lewis is a contemporary singer and guitarist with a bent toward vintage blues, soul, and R&B. Backed by his band the Honeybears, Lewis draws inspiration from such legendary “shouters” as Howlin’ Wolf, Wilson Pickett, and James Brown.

ADDITIONAL UPCOMING FREE EVENTS FOR 2016
VARIOUS DATES
ART ON LARK @ Lark Street, Albany, June 5
FREEDOM PARK CONCERT SERIES @ Freedom Park, Scotia, various dates from June 22-August 27
TROY RIVER FEST @ River Street, Troy, Saturday, June 18
DAD FEST @ Washington Park, Albany, Sunday, June 19
SCHENECTADY COUNTY SUMMERNIGHT @ State & Jay streets, Schenectady, Friday, July 15
JAZZ AT THE LAKE @ Shepard Park, Lake George, September 17 & 18
WEDNESDAYS
MADE IN THE SHADE OF THE EGG @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, 12noon Wednesdays from June 1-August 31
ROCKIN’ ON THE RIVER @ Riverfront Park, Troy, 5pm Wednesdays from June 15-August 3
LAKE GEORGE ARTS PROJECT’S WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 7:30pm Wednesdays from July 6-August 31
THURSDAYS
JAZZ ON JAY @ Jay Street, Schenectady, 12noon Thursdays from June 2-September 1
ALIVE AT FIVE @ Tricentennial Park, Albany, 5pm Thursdays from June 9-August 4
FRIDAYS
FRIDAYS AT THE LAKE @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 4pm Fridays from June 24-September 2
UPBEAT ON THE ROOF @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs, 7pm Fridays from July 1-August 26
MUSIC AT SUNSET CONCERT SERIES @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson, 7pm Fridays from May 27-August 26
SUNDAYS
MUSIC HAVEN @ Central Park, Schenectady, 7pm Sundays from July 10-August 14