FREE: Riverlink Concert Series Kicks Off on Saturday

One of Greater Nippertown’s best free concert series kicks off in Amsterdam’s waterfront Riverlink Park on Saturday (June 24), with the Canadian Celtic pop band Searson, led by sisters Erin and Colleen Searson.

The Riverlink Summer Concert Series is held at 7pm on Saturdays, except where noted, through the end of August.

Here’s the complete schedule for the 2017 summer season:

Saturday (June 24): Searson
From Ottawa Valley, Canada, Searson blends Celtic traditions with Canadian old-time sounds combining spirited fiddling, energetic dancing and gorgeous harmonies.

July 1: The Suitcase Junket
From the salvaged sounds of American juke joints, back porches, honky tonks and rock clubs, 21st century one-man band the Suitcase Junket conjures an entirely new sound in his current album, Pile Driver.

Tuesday, July 4, 8pm: Albany Symphony Orchestra’s “Water Music New York”
With David Alan Miller at the helm, the ASO is joined by MVCKids, MVC Youth Chorale and the River Valley Ringers for an Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration Concert.

July 8: I Draw Slow
Dublin, Ireland’s I Draw Slow has won the adoration of fans in their home country and North America by combining American folk and Irish storytelling traditions with close-harmony vocals, intriguing instrumentation and compelling subject matter.

July 15: Jane Lee Hooker
Jane Lee Hooker is five women from New York City infusing NYC grit and attitude into the blues. With double lead guitars, a hard-driving rhythm section and soul-scouring vocals, JLH honors the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Johnny Winter, Big Mama Thornton and other blues greats.

July 22: Phoebe Hunt & the Gatherers
An accomplished Americana instrumentalist with foundations in jazz and swing music, Phoebe Hunt makes an impressive creative leap with her latest record.

July 29: French 75
Featuring Alex Kollias on clarinet, Haneef Nelson on trumpet, John Birt on banjo, Mark Macksoud on drums and Allison Lazur on tuba, French 75 is a New Orleans-style group playing 1920s jazz standards.

August 5, 8pm: Sean Rowe
Though Sean Rowe has often made his hometown of Troy his creative base, his New Lore album brought a new environment (Memphis) and a new producer, Matt Ross-Spang.

August 12: Franklin Micare Trio
On his own or with his formidable trio, Franklin Micare is a walking catalog of swing, pop and soul. His ability to mingle musical styles has gotten him a rabid club following and keeps him a top draw on the social circuit.

August 19: The New Orleans Suspects
Led by the syncopated rhythms of drummer Willie Green, the refugees from such New Orleans bands as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Neville Brothers and the Radiators bring together some of the best, most highly respected players in the Big Easy for a rousing celebration of rock, world beat and Crescent City funk.

August 26: Los Hacheros
A band of only five musicians, Los Hacheros can sound like a conjunto of 12. Eddie Venegas plays violin, sings chorus and improvises mambos on the trombone. Itai Kriss sings, plays flute, campana and guiro, while Papote Jimenez is in charge of lead vocals, soulful soneos and congas. William Ash holds down the tumbaos on baby bass, while Jacob Plasse plays the tres, a guitar-like instrument originating from Cuba.

MORE OF TODAY’S NEW CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Egg Announces Three New Concerts
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Announces Two New Concerts
FEST: The Big Howl @ Mabee Farm on Sunday

MORE OF NIPPERTOWN’S UPCOMING FREE CONCERT EVENTS
*VARIOUS DAYS
NEW YORK STATE’S FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, July 4
SCHENECTADY COUNTY SUMMERNIGHT @ Broadway, Schenectady, July 14
KIDS DAY @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, July 15
BLACK ARTS & CULTURAL FESTIVAL @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, August 5
NEW YORK STATE FOOD FESTIVAL @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, August 9
JAZZ AT THE LAKE @ Shepard Park, Lake George, September 16 & 17
*MONDAYS
ROTTERDAM SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Rotterdam Senior Center lawn, Rotterdam, 7pm, through August 28
*TUESDAYS
MUSIC IN THE PARK @ Schodack Town Park, Schodack, 6pm, June 6-July 11
TUESDAY NIGHTS IN THE PARK @ Cook Park, Colonie, 6:30pm, June 13-August 29
*WEDNESDAYS
MADE IN THE SHADE OF THE EGG @ the Empire State Plaza at The Egg, Albany, 12noon, June 7-August 30
CAPITAL CONCERT SERIES @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, 5pm, June 28-July 26
ROCKIN’ ON THE RIVER @ Riverfront Park, Troy, 5pm, June 7-August 9
JAZZ NIGHTS @ Empire State Plaza, Albany, 5:30pm, September 13 & 20
CONCERTS AT WINDSOR LAKE @ Windsor Lake, North Adams, 6:30pm, June 7-August 30
FREEDOM PARK CONCERT SERIES @ Freedom Park, Scotia, 7pm, June 21-August 23
*THURSDAYS
JAZZ ON JAY @ Jay Street, Schenectady, 12noon, June 1-August 31
ALIVE AT FIVE @ Corning Preserve’s Jennings Landing, Albany, 5pm, June 8-August 3
BROWN’S SUMMER SESSIONS @ Brown’s Brewing Co., Troy, 5pm, June 1-July 13
ROCK THE BLOCK @ Remsen Square, Cohoes, 6:30pm, June 8-August 10
UPBEAT ON THE ROOF @ Skidmore College’s Tang Museum, Saratoga Springs, 7pm, July 13-August 24
*FRIDAYS
FRIDAYS AT THE LAKE: BANDS & BREWS CONCERT SERIES @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 6pm, June 16-September 1
ATHENS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Riverfront Park, Athens, 7pm, June 16-August 25
MUSIC AT SUNSET @ Greenport Town Park, Hudson, 7pm, June 9-August 25
*SATURDAYS
FREEDOM PARK CONCERT SERIES @ Freedom Park, Scotia, 7pm, June 24-August 26
*SUNDAYS
CAFFE LENA @ SPAC @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center Gazebo, Saratoga Springs, 12noon, July 9 & August 27
MUSIC HAVEN CONCERT SERIES @ Central Park’s Music Haven, Schenectady, 7pm, July 9-August 13
FREEDOM PARK CONCERT SERIES @ Freedom Park, Scotia, 7pm, June 25-August 20