RoAnn Destito, Commissioner, New York State Office of General Services, today announced that Eddie Money will cap off a full day of great food and musical entertainment as the featured performer at the 2014 New York State Food Festival. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13 at the Empire State Plaza.

Each year, nearly 15,000 people flock to the Plaza to get lunch, dinner, or both from the nearly 100 food vendors who participate in the Food Festival. They come for the food and stay for a day of live musical performances. This Summer At The Plaza favorite will showcase New York food producers and products, including New York State specialty foods, beer, and wine. The popular Plaza Farmers Market will offer a wide variety of fresh market goods, cheeses, and wines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 Born in Brooklyn, Eddie Money began pursuing his career in music after serving as a New York City Police Officer for two years. Money burst onto the music scene with his eponymous debut album in 1977. Fans immediately fell in love with Money’s sound, and the album, which went double platinum, featured hits like “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” Money followed the success of his debut album with a stream of Top 40 hits, as well as some of the era’s most creative videos for songs like “Think I’m in Love” and “Shakin.” In 1986, Money released Can’t Hold Back, which featured the classic, Grammy-Nominated duet with Ronnie Spector, “Take Me Home Tonight.” The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went platinum and also featured the hit “I Wanna Go Back.”

These days, Money continues to delight new and old fans alike at venues throughout the country. As the years have passed, Money’s blue-collar brand of Rock n Roll has managed to transcend generations and continues to move audiences today.

Music on the festival’s main stage will kick off at 5 p.m. with a performance by The Blind Spots. This all original, female-fronted, five-piece moxy rock band from Ithaca features a solid-as-a-rock rhythm section, eclectic library of keyboard sounds, and bold and inventive electric guitar stylings. Electrifying lead vocalist and force of nature Maddy Walsh can hang with the best of them, continuing to reach new heights with her voice at every show and on every recording.

Next to hit the stage will be Soul Session, a high energy and emotive ensemble that performs multi-genre soul music with entertaining command and spontaneous originality. Soul Session, led by “soulist” Garland Nelson, the former lead vocalist of the New York Players, emotes supernatural passions from material by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Bill Withers, and many others.

Previously announced 2014 Summer At the Plaza events include:

New York State Capital Concert Series presented by Saranac:  

• Living Colour in concert

Wednesday, June 4, 5 – 9 p.m.

• Kellie Pickler in concert

Wednesday, June 11, 5 – 9 p.m.

• Bootsy Collins with special guest Shaggy

Wednesday June 18, 5 – 9 p.m.

• George Thorogood in concert

Wednesday, June 25, 5 – 9 p.m.

Price Chopper Presents New York State’s 4th of July Celebration starring Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals and Gedeon Luke & The People

Friday, July 4, 3 – 10 p.m.

GE’s Kids Day Sing Along Adventure with Mike the Knight^TM

Sunday, July 13, Noon – 5 p.m.   

McDonald’s Presents African American Family Day featuring Jeffrey Osborne.

Saturday, August 2, Noon – 7 p.m.

SONYMA Presents Hispanic Heritage Celebration with musical guests to be announced

September 13, 5 – 10 p.m. 

Friday Night Flicks

The popular outdoor movie nights will return, but on a new night and in a new location. Friday Night Flicks will feature classic films suitable for the entire family every Friday in August, beginning at 8 p.m. in West Capitol Park.

All of the Summer At The Plaza events are FREE at the Empire State Plaza, Madison Avenue, Albany. Free parking in the East Garage is also available. During Food Festival and other weeknight At the Plaza events, free parking in the East Garage begins at 5 p.m.

Sponsors include Price Chopper, GE, Saranac, SONYMA, Hannaford Supermarkets, DeCrescente Distributing, SEFCU, New York 529 College Savings Program, McDonald’s, New York Lottery, County Waste and Recycling, Key Bank, UnitedHealthcare, Saratoga Chips, PYX 106, Jamz 96.3, WGNA, B95.5, Oldies 98.3, AllOverAlbany.com, Times Union, Metroland, Albany.com, and Brotherhood Winery.

For performance updates on any of the above listed events, find the Empire State Plaza on Facebook at facebook.com\empirestateplaza, on Twitter at twitter.com/plazaevents or call the OGS Convention & Cultural Events Office toll free at 1-(877) 659-4ESP. For additional information, including ground rules for the events, visit our website at www.ogs.ny.gov.