Find the Full Schedule of Summer At the Plaza Events Here

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy today announced that Sheila E., MisterWives, and lovelytheband have been added to the lineup of this year’s Wednesday evening Capital Concert Series presented by Miller Lite at the 2024 Summer at the Plaza series of free events at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Sheila E. – July 17 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Percussionist and singer Sheila E. will be performing alongside an opening act on July 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Empire State Plaza’s outdoor stage.

Guided by the forces of family, faith, and music, Sheila E. has made a name for herself as one of the most talented musical icons over the decades. With a fearless nature and a passion for sharing her gifts with others, Sheila truly follows the beat of her own drum. She touches the lives of so many, with her dynamic music career at the heart of everything. Sheila’s eagerness to share her music, openness as an author, and fire for her ministry make her such a relatable, inspirational figure for people of all ages.

Born into a musical family, Sheila Escovedo (Sheila E.) has been driven by an inner rhythm her entire life. As a young girl, she was immersed in the diverse music scenes of the Bay Area—influenced and inspired by her percussionist father Pete Escovedo; musical uncles Coke Escovedo, Alejandro Escovedo, Mario Escovedo, and Javier Escovedo; and godfather Tito Puente. Growing up in the Escovedo household, musical instruments were for everyone. “Nobody cared as long as you could keep time (or have a good time),” she writes in her memoir, “The Beat Of My Own Drum.”

At the age of 5, Sheila gave her first public performance for an audience of 3,000, appearing alongside her dad. It was while on that stage playing a drum solo that Sheila first realized she was going to be a percussionist. Five decades later, and the beat that has always driven her is showing no signs of slowing down. The famous drummer, singer, songwriter, author, humanitarian, and icon is following the beat of her own drum. She considers music to be the purest form of self-expression and the one true love of her life.

Shiela E. was scheduled to perform at New York State’s Fourth of July Celebration Presented by PriceChopper/Market 32 in 2023, but the concert was canceled due to inclement weather.

MisterWives and lovelytheband – July 24 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Both based in Los Angeles, MisterWives and lovelytheband, will take the stage for an evening of great alternative rock music on July 24 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Empire State Plaza’s outdoor stage.

MisterWives is a platinum-certified quintet that absorbs life’s ups and downs and recalibrates them in the form of snappy alternative rock anthems underlined by unexpectedly hip-shaking rhythms and identifiable tattoo-worthy lyrics. Back in 2012, MisterWives came to life around a spirit of collaboration. The push-and-pull between the unpredictable soundscapes and vocalist Mandy Lee’s emotionally charged delivery defined their signature style across albums such as “Our Own House” (2015), “Connect the Dots” (2017), and “Superbloom” (2020). The latter garnered critical acclaim from NYLON, PAPER, DuJour, Today.com, and MTV, to name a few. Tallying over half-a-billion streams total on their catalog, “Reflections” notably went platinum, and “Our Own House” reached gold status. Emerging as a fiery live presence, they toured alongside everyone from TWENTY ONE PILOTS and Panic! At The Disco to WALK THE MOON and Thirty Seconds to Mars in addition to selling out headline jaunts of their own.

lovelytheband is an alternative rock band. Their debut single “broken” made billboard history (charting for 76 weeks and reaching number 1 on multiple charts). The song has recently been certified triple platinum. lovelytheband has been nominated for multiple awards, including Billboard, Teen Choice, and Disney. The band also won iheart Radio’s 2019 Best New Rock/Alternative Act. Later that year, the band co-headlined the NYC ball drop with Bebe Rexha and Christina Aguilera. They have cultivated a global fanbase through non-stop touring. Headlining multiple North American tours as well as European tours supporting 5 Seconds of Summer and LANY. 

Capital Concert Series Presented by Miller Lite Schedule

Presented by Miller Lite, the Capital Concert Series features four Wednesday evening performances from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Empire State Plaza’s outdoor stage.

• July 10, reggae night with Maxi Priest
• July 17, Shiela E.
• July 24, MisterWives and lovelytheband
• July 31, hip hop night featuring Rob Base with Mr. Cheeks, CL Smooth, and 518 DJ Battle

For the full 2024 Summer at the Plaza schedule and for event updates empirestateplaza.ny.gov, @EmpireStatePlaza on Facebook, and @Plazaevents on Instagram, or call (518) 474-4759.

Sponsors of the 2024 Summer at the Plaza Season includes Price Chopper/Market 32, Miller Lite and DeCrescente Distributing Company, NYSTEC, MVP Health Care, M&T Bank, Highmark Blue Shield, I LOVE NY, CDTA, DICK’s House of Sport, CSEA, Broadview Federal Credit Union, County Waste, Renaissance Albany, YMCA, First New York Federal Credit Union, Hot 99.1, EQX, The River, KISS, Fly 92.3, PYX 106, and Jamz 96.3.