Special Full Day of Music and Food at the Empire State Plaza on August 11 

New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito today announced the lineup for the 2021 Capital Concert Series at the Plaza.

“We’re back!” said Commissioner Destito. “Following a hugely successful Independence Day celebration at the Empire State Plaza, we’re excited to invite the public back to enjoy some amazing music and food in the heart of downtown Albany. There will be something for everyone, and I want to thank our generous sponsors whose support makes it all possible.”

Event Schedule

• August 4, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: R&B and adult contemporary music featuring Ginuwine
• August 11, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.: A day full of music and food, with an evening alternative rock concert featuring Lit
• August 18, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: 518 Night featuring local artists Super 400 and Wild Adriatic
• August 25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Reggae music featuring The Legendary Wailers

Capital Concert Series

The Capital Concert series offers four concerts free to the public. With an exciting lineup of diverse national and regional artists scheduled to take the stage.

August 4, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: R&B and adult contemporary music featuring Ginuwine.

A Grammy-nominated Icon Award recipient, Ginuwine is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, and philanthropist. His career began as a member of Swing Mob, an R&B/hip-hop collective consisting of artists and record labels based in Rochester, NY, Ginuwine became one of R&B’s preeminent artists during the ’90s heyday of hip-hop soul. Ginuwine’s sultry, seductive crooning earned him a substantial following and made him a regular presence on the R&B charts.

August 11, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.: A day full of music and food, with an evening alternative rock concert featuring Lit.

With several food vendors to choose from, the Empire State Plaza Farmers Market, and live music at lunchtime and in the evening, this full-day event will draw people to the Plaza for lunch, dinner, or both. The Old Time Dance Band will provide lunchtime swing music, and the event will be capped off with a performance by Lit. 

Lit  is considered one of the preeminent bands to have come out of the post-grunge era of the late 1990s and helped define an entire generation of SoCal power punk with hard-charging hits like “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Miserable,” “Zip-Lock,” and “Lipstick & Bruises.” The band has released six worldwide studio albums, including their RIAA Certified Platinum “A Place in the Sun.”

August 18, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: 518 Night featuring local artists Super 400 and Wild Adriatic

Wild Adriatic has built an international audience on a combination of groove, grit, and guitar-heavy swagger. Whittled into sharp shape by a touring schedule that’s kept them busy for roughly 250 days a year — including several European tours, countless stateside runs, and appearances at festivals like Bonnaroo & Mountain Jam With plenty of new songs and dance-party inciting jams, Wild A brings with it the next level of the explosive & fun live performance that gained them early acclaim.

Named after the iconic Gibson guitar, Super 400 is Troy’s fabled rock trio. Known all over the world for their telekinetic jams and big love, the band was formed by longtime friends Kenny Hohman (guitar and vocals) and Joe Daley (drums) and played in various incarnations throughout New York City and Woodstock. The lineup would not be finalized until the addition of bassist Lori Friday in February 1996. Back home, the mayor of Troy gave Super 400 their own official holiday on February 25, “Super 400 Day!”

August  25, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Reggae music featuring The Legendary Wailers

On February 14, 1977, Julian Junior was invited to join both Stevie Wonder’s band and Bob Marley & The Wailers band. His parents and musician friends helped him decide to accept Bob Marley’s invitation because they were both Jamaicans. The rest is history. After touring with many incarnations of The Wailers since Bob Marley’s passing, Julian Junior has stepped out to front his own unique version of The Wailers, playing and singing Bob Marley & the Wailers hit songs the way Bob intended them to be heard. 

Free parking will be available starting at 5 p.m. in the Grand Street and Elk Street lots. Paid parking is also available in the visitor lot under the Empire State Plaza.

Plaza security will enforce its alcohol policy consistent with all other events and will not allow outside alcoholic beverages, hard-sided coolers, or glass containers to be brought onto the Plaza at any time of day. Alcohol will be served by vendors to adults with proper identification.

For event updates, visit empirestateplaza.ny.gov, @EmpireStatePlaza on Facebook, and @plazaevents on Twitter, or call (518) 474-4759. For additional information about Plaza events, including directions and ground rules, visit www.empirestateplaza.ny.gov.

Sponsors of the Capital Concert Series include Miller Lite, Times Union, Renaissance Albany Hotel, CDTA, Hot 99.1, PYX106, and 99.5 The River.