FREE: Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series Kicks Off on Thursday

Photograph by Ed Conway

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall doesn’t host any concerts during the summertime, but it does present a free Kids Summer Series of events in nearby Barker Park at the corner of 3rd & State streets in Troy. Rain site for the series is St. Paul’s Guild House just across the street.

Featuring a summer full of music, dance and all kinds of interactive, kid-friendly activities, the Kids Summer Series takes place at 11am on Thursdays beginning this week (July 6) with Ramblin Jug Stompers.

Here’s the schedule for the 2017 Barker Park Kids’ Summer Series:

RAMBLIN JUG STOMPERS
Thursday (July 6)
Ramblin Jug Stompers have been kickin’ up a vintage Americana, roots-rockin’ ruckus for more than a decade, and they’re still stompin’ strong. Conjuring up the ghosts of early legends like Gus Cannon and Charlie Poole, mixing in the best of the ’60s folk revival with some seasoning from the current Americana movement, Ramblin Jug Stompers have melded these influences with their own contemporary spin and wry sense of humor. The quartet – Cousin Clyde, Bowtie, Mister Eck and Wild Bill – traces their roots directly to membership in the legendary Star Spangled Washboard Band and early MTV pioneers Blotto, echoing those bands’ unique combination of hot-wired musicianship and quick wit.

ANDY THE MUSIC MAN
July 13
Andy “The Music Man” Morse is a popular children’s musician renowned for the special way he connects with his audiences. A talented guitarist, mandolin player and songwriter, Andy mingles traditional and original songs and novelty, delighting and involving kids through sing-a-longs, dancing, play-acting and storytelling.

ELLEN SINOPOLI DANCE COMPANY
July 20
Appropriate for children, toddler to age eight, the Movement Story Hour workshop is designed to nurture the creative potential of each child. The stories are drawn from the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company’s extensive collection of children’s books and are led by its Artistic Director, Ellen Sinopoli. An array of fun-filled visual and verbal tools are given to assist children in finding innovative shapes and imaginative ways to move.

SETH & THE MOODY MELIX
July 27
Borrowing from a wonderfully diverse mix of musical styles, this toe-tapping trio plays lyrically rich music for kids that parents can appreciate, too. Guitarist Seth Warden, fiddler Doug Moody and percussionist Brian Melick sing songs that impart good values and educational tidbits in a fresh, upbeat organic style.

HEARD
August 3
Heard is Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius (composer/pianist), Jonathan Greene (woodwinds), Bobby Kendall (bass), Brian Melick (drums/percussion) and Zorkie Nelson (drums/percussion/vocals). Heard’s energizing world music will put a smile on your face and get you up and dancing as they present an all-ages, interactive show with percussion instruments for kids to check out and learn some rhythms.

TROY PUBLIC LIBRARY
August 10
The Troy Public Library will host a Story Hour with a visit from a very special reader, a Fairy Queen. Join us when Queen Mab from the Enchanted City comes to Barker Park to reads us stories. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 10 years of age, and the wearing of fairy wings is encouraged.

THE ARTS CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION
August 17
Join The Arts Center of the Capital Region for a fun-filled, interactive art-making workshop. Participants will work collaboratively to create and hang unique twirling sculptures in the park for all your friends and families to enjoy.

AMAZING KIDS’ CIRCUS
August 24
Come one, come all to the Amazing Kids’ Circus, an interactive performance that engages the imagination. The Ringmaster provides the setting and costumes that transform children and adults into circus stars. Join us and you might transform into an elephant, a tightrope walker, a human cannonball and more.

MORE OF NIPPERTOWN’S UPCOMING FREE CONCERT EVENTS
*VARIOUS DAYS
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
PEARLPALOOZA @ North Pearl Street, Albany, September 16
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
BRUNSWICK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ the Brunswick Community Center lawn, Troy, 6:30pm, June 27-August 29
TUESDAY NIGHTS IN THE PARK @ Cook Park, Colonie, 6:30pm, June 13-August 29
CLARK ART INSTITUTE FREE CONCERT SERIES @ Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, 6:30pm, July 4-25
MUSIC IN THE PARK @ Stony Creek Town Park, Stony Creek, 7pm, July 4-August 29
THE CONGRESS PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, 7pm, August 8-29
*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
RENSSELAER FAMILY SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ the North End Firehouse lawn, Rensselaer, 6pm, June 28-August 9
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
EVENINGS ON THE GREEN @ Bethlehem Public Library, Delmar, 7pm, July 5-August 9
PERFORMING ARTS FAMILY SERIES @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park, 7pm, July 19-August 16
*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
CONCERTS IN THE PARK @ Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa, 6pm, June 29-August 31
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
MUSIC IN THE PARK CONCERT SERIES @ Dutchman’s Landing Park, Catskill, 7pm, June 29-August 31
*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
RIVERLINK CONCERT SERIES @ Riverlink Park, Amsterdam, 7pm, June 24-August 26
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 IN THE PARK @ Riverside Park, Coxsackie, 6pm, July 2-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
THE CONGRESS PARK SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, 7pm, July 2-23
PERFORMING ARTS AT THE COMMON @ Clifton Common, Clifton Park, 7pm, June 25-August 13