RoAnn Destito, Commissioner, New York State Office of General Services today announced the 2018 Summer At The Plaza series of free community events that will be presented at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. Summer at the Plaza will include family-friendly concerts, movies, and festivals starting with the annual July 4 celebration.

 

“Families, neighbors, and friends flock to the free Summer At the Plaza events each year to enjoy great entertainment, delicious food, and the region’s best Fourth of July fireworks,” Commissioner Destito said. “This year’s lineup of concerts, festivals, and movies has something for everyone, and we are grateful to our generous 2018 sponsors whose support makes all this wonderful entertainment possible.”

 

Price Chopper and Market 32 have presented this Albany tradition since our country’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. The annual event features live music and fun for the whole family, including the best fireworks show in the region. Each year, more than 20,000 people gather on the Plaza and in the surrounding neighborhoods to enjoy the day, which includes a naturalization ceremony, dozens of food and craft vendors, activities for kids, and an evening of live entertainment leading up to the big pyrotechnics show.

 

Formed in late 1994, Smash Mouth’s major-label debut album went more than double platinum and set the table for what most of the band’s fans consider their masterpiece, 1999’s follow-up album “Astrolounge.” Boasting three top-10 hits – “All-Star,” “Then The Morning Comes,” and “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby” – sales of “Astrolounge” have approached nearly quadruple platinum status. Smash Mouth’s third release featured the smash hit “I’m a Believer,” which appears on the “Shrek” movie soundtrack.

 

Sponsors include Price Chopper and Market 32, I Love New York, New York Lottery, Miller Light, CDTA, Times Union, Albany.com, Renaissance Albany Hotel, and 99.5 The River.

 

Kids Day is this area’s “kid-centric” outdoor event. Nowhere else can children enjoy an array of favorites such as live music, the Two by Two Zoo, Touch a Truck, face painting, bounce rides, and the chance to meet Robin and Starfire of Teen Titans.

 

Don’t miss the opportunity to join Thomas on a fun-filled, sing-along adventure and meet the Really Useful Engine!

 

Sponsors of Kids Day include MVP Health Care, Lego Land, New York 529 College Savings Program, New York State of Health,99.5 The River, and CDTA.

 

The Black Arts and Cultural Festival is an updated take on a classic celebration of the traditions and cultural contributions of the black community through music, art, dance, and more. In addition to an exciting lineup of talent on the main stage, the festival will feature a gospel stage, Her Temple Monologues Teen Scene, food, crafts, arts, heritage, and more.

 

Faith Evans is a multi-platinum, seven-time Grammy nominee, and 1998 Grammy winner for Best Performance by a Duo or Group for “I'll be Missing You,” an homage to her late husband and hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G.

 

Sponsors include New York’s 529 College Savings Program, New York State of Health, SONYMA, Hot 99.1, Price Chopper and Market 32, MVP Health Care, and Renaissance Albany Hotel.

 

With many food vendors to choose from, 15,000 people annually flock to the Plaza Food Festival for lunch, dinner, or both. They come for the food and stay for a day of live musical entertainment. The Food Festival showcases New York producers and specialty products, New York State beers, and the popular Empire State Plaza Farmers Market.

 

Everclear has written and recorded some truly iconic ’90s alt-rock hits like “Santa Monica” and “Father of Mine.”  With plans to mix it up and dig into the catalogue, Everclear's performance promises to offer fans a rare treat into past material - especially the “deep cuts.”

 

Sponsors include New York Lottery, BlueShield of Northeastern NY, I Love New York, Times Union, Saranac, Druthers Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Ithaca Beer Company, and Renaissance Albany Hotel.

 

The inaugural year for this special event, the Hops and Harvest Festival will celebrate the best of what autumn has to offer in upstate New York and blue grass music.

 

The Infamous Stringdusters have consistently covered new ground, inspired fans, and redefined what a bluegrass band can be. They won a 2018 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album for their 2017 release “Laws of Gravity.”

 

Sponsors include Times Union, Saranac, Druthers Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Ithaca Beer Company, and Renaissance Albany Hotel.

 

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with this tribute to Latin culture. Rich in tradition, the Hispanic community comes together in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center for a colorful pageantry of live music, dance, food, and family friendly activities.

 

Oro Sólido was formed by Raul Acosta, a.k.a. “El Presidente” in 1994. The band has since positioned itself as one of the biggest Latin music groups in the world.

 

Sponsors include Price Chopper and Market 32, Hot 99.1, SONYMA, New York State of Health, MVP Health Care, and Renaissance Albany Hotel.

 

The Capital Concert Series presented by Miller Lite offers four concerts free to the public. With award-winning and diverse artists, there is something for everybody this summer at the Plaza.

As one of the top five highest selling American female music groups, En Vogue has sold over 20 million albums to date. Boasting recognizable hits like “Free Your Mind” and “Whatta Man” (featuring Salt N Peppa), En Vogue is grounded in R&B, but shows their appreciation for diverse musical genres in their new album, Electric Cafe. With timeless appeal and resonant voices, don't miss what promises to be a stellar performance.

 

Toots is one of the true architects of Reggae, so much so that “Do the Reggay,” a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. Drenched in soul and rooted in gospel, at the heart of it all is Toots’ voice, still breathtakingly powerful after almost four decades in the spotlight.

Blue Oyster Cult has been thrilling fans worldwide for four decades with classic songs such as the truly haunting "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from 1976’s “Agents of Fortune” and the pummeling "Godzilla" from 1977’s “Spectres.” Cited as a major influence by legends such as Metallica, the Long Island-based band is revered within the hard rock and heavy metal community for its pioneering work.

Grand Funk's legacy still reigns over the classic rock landscape with mega-hits such as “We're An American Band,” “I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.” Internationally acclaimed, Grand Funk has toured the world selling out dates in the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond. Over their career, Grand Funk has seen chart top success including eight Top 40 hits and two number-one singles.

Sponsors of the Capital Concert Series include Miller Lite, Allstate, County Waste, SEFCU, Renaissance Albany Hotel, Times Union, CDTA, Saranac, Druthers Brewing Company, Brooklyn Brewery, Ithaca Beer Company, 99.5 The River, Kiss 102.3, Hot 99.1, and PYX 106.

 

In its second year, the Jazz on the Plaza concert series will feature two free jazz performances this summer.

 

 

Led by the charmingly enigmatic Sweet Megg, the band seamlessly incorporates elements of New Orleans Swing, Harlem swing, Parisian cabaret, and gut bucket blues into one charming musical performance. 

 

 

Jazz Vibes has been considered the leading vibraphone group in the Capital Region for more than a decade. The ensemble’s repertoire includes straight ahead jazz standards, Latin-American songs, and original material.

 

Sponsors of Jazz on the Plaza include The Saint 88.3, Renaissance Hotel Albany, Albany.com, and Cornerstone at the Plaza

 

Outdoor movie nights return to Albany on three Wednesdays in August, featuring classic films suitable for the entire family in West Capitol Park.

 

Sponsors of the Capitol Park After Dark Movie Series include BlueShield of Northeastern New York, New York State of Health, Saratoga Water, Albany.com, and Renaissance Hotel Albany.

To complement the outdoor farmers market and food vendors, musicians will perform from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays from June 6 through August 29.

 

June 6: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra, Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

June 13: Closet Classics, acoustic classics from the ’60s and ’70s.

June 20: Annie in the Water, combination of reggae, funk, rock, blues, and jam band.

June 27: Rusticators, acoustic with Americana spirit.

July 11: The Stray Dogs, acoustic classics.

July 18: The Swingin’ Palms,  Hawaiian Tiki.

July 25: Olde Time Dance Band, big band swing.

August 1: Melissa Sgambelluri Trio, dynamic singer/songwriter pop.

August 8: Dominant Five Bradd Quintet, classical Dixie jazz.

August 15: School of Rock, youth band.

August 22: The Lane Brothers, soulful, jazzy, bluegrass.

August 29: Soul Sessions Duo, acoustic soul.

 

All of the Summer At The Plaza events are FREE. Free parking is available in the East Garage and the Cathedral, Madison, and Grand Street parking lots on Saturdays during At the Plaza events. Free parking is also available in the East Garage after 4 p.m. for weeknight events. Paid parking is available at the visitor or V lot underneath the plaza.

 

No alcoholic beverages, coolers (defined as rigid insulated containers), or glass containers of any kind; animals or pets, other than ADA-defined service animals, will be allowed. Alcohol will be sold by vendors to adults with proper identification.

 

For event updates and additional information on opening acts, people can follow @plazaevents on Twitter and Facebook, or call (518) 474-4759. For additional information, including ground rules and parking lot locations, visit our website at www.empirestateplaza.org.