Saratoga SPRINGS — Garbage will be joined by Alanis Morissette, and Liz Phair on a cross-country tour that kicks off in Austin, TX on Aug. 12 and lands at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sunday, Sept. 5. 

ALBANY — Two-time Grammy award-winning Albany Symphony launches its annual American Music Festival celebrating cutting-edge composers and musicians, starting Thursday, June 10 through Sunday, June 13 at the Palace Theatre. The event is preceded by a Special Ability Panel Discussion. 

At 11 a.m. on Thusday, June 10, composers Molly Joyce and Nina Shekar will sit down for an honest talk about creativity, resilience, and embracing differences with Maureen O’Brien, President and CEO at New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID) and Greg Sorrentino, President and CEO at Center for Disability Services. To register for this event visit: forms.gle/tDq39Tu6JYyFQmUt5. 

The American Music Festival four-day event will feature William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet as well as composers Clarice Assad, Molly Joyce, Christopher Theofanidis, Alexis Lamb, Nina Shekhar, and other outstanding musicians. The Festival also includes a performance by the popular Dogs of Desire; the First Draughts reading session, which give the public a glimpse into the weeklong Composer Workshop for emerging creators; outdoor neighborhood performances and family activities. 

To access the American Music Festival concert live-streams or to make a gift in support of the Albany Symphony, visit: albanysymphony.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Tango Fusion Dance Company is starting in-person classes again in an outdoor setting. 

Starting Monday, June 7, Tango Fusion instructors Diane Lachtrupp, Johnny Martinez and Jen Cornell will be offering classes at the large, covered YMCA pavilion on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. 

They will be offering beginner swing and intermediate/ advanced swing at 7 p.m. and beginner and intermediate/advanced waltz at 7:45. New students may try one class for free and do not need a partner or experience. 

Interested students should call 518-932-6447 or email info@tangofusiondance.com to reserve a free spot and register. 

“Even though we are having outdoor classes, we are proceeding with caution,” said Lachtrupp, in a statement. “We are asking non-vaccinated students to wear a mask and vaccinated students may choose to wear one or not.”

In addition to having classes on Monday nights, Tango Fusion will be holding monthly dances on Friday nights. The next one will be held June 11 and will include a class followed by dancing. Advanced registration is required for the dance. For more info, go to www.tangofusiondance.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mostly Modern Projects presents J.S Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” & Robert Paterson’s “Cocoa Cantata” June 17 and 18 at Universal Preservation Hall. Social distance protocols will be in place for attendees. 

American Modern Ensemble performs the world premiere production of “Cocoa Cantata,” music by Saratoga Springs resident Robert Paterson (and libretto by Time Out New York’s David Cote). This is paired with J.S. Bach’s “Coffee Cantata;” both feature Cree Carrico, soprano, Steven Stull, baritone, and David Neal, bass-baritone. “Cocoa Cantata” is a mini-drama with sparkling roles for soprano, baritone, and bass-baritone, exploring power and ethics in the multi-billion-dollar chocolate industry, using Bach’s instrumentation. 

“Cocoa Cantata” is delicious to anyone who loves chocolate—or tries to control their craving for it! Also on the program is a contemporary adaptation of J.S. Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” (c. 1734). More than just an English version of the German libretto by Christian Friedrich Henrici, this new work aims for a “fresh-brewed” vision of the father-daughter conflict over java. Cote’s new libretto retains the essential plot: a frustrated father tries to convince his coffee-chugging daughter to forsake the bean. When the father dangles marriage as a bargaining tool, they reach a decaffeinated détente. For more information, go to: universalpreservationhall.org. 

BOLTON LANDING — The Sembrich has announced the opening of its museum and historic lakeside grounds for the 2021 season on Saturday, May 29. 

“We are thrilled to return to regular operations and welcome visitors to The Sembrich’s museum and grounds in 2021,” said Suzanna M. Bernd, the Sembrich’s Executive Director, in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy music, history, and nature again here on Lake George.”

The Sembrich’s grounds will be open to visitors daily for the summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the park-like atmosphere, outdoor recreation, and incredible views of Lake George. 

The Sembrich’s museum will also reopen to visitors for the 2021 season. The museum hours for 2021 are 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and 2-5 p.m. daily. 

Visitors to the historic studio step back a century in time and experience the incredible life of Marcella Sembrich through The Sembrich’s extensive museum collection. Featured in the museum are accolades from colleagues such as Brahms, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, and Verdi, a working Victrola, costumes, art, furniture, photographs, tributes, and more.

The Sembrich’s all-outdoor summer music and film festival titled Nature & Music will begin in mid-June.  For more information on The Sembrich or to plan your visit, visit TheSembrich.org. Located at: 4800 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new rainbow-colored crosswalk stretches along Spring Street, between the Congress Park Carousel and the Hawthorne Spring, symbolically depicting Saratoga’s support for the LGBTQ+ community. 

June is officially recognized in many countries as Pride month. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 3. 

“Saratoga Springs is an incredibly supportive community and this crosswalk will serve as a permanent symbolic welcome mat for all to see and appreciate as they enter the city,” says Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton. 

Saratoga Pride, an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, works to foster connections among Saratoga area LGBTQ community members and visitors. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Willie Nelson, 88, is hitting the road this summer to headline a 14-date tour billed as the Outlaw Music Festival. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center marks show number 4, and will take place Sunday, Sept. 12. 

“The Outlaw Music Festival Tour has always been about family and friends coming together for a great day of music and fun, and with the amazing group of artists joining us, this year promises to be our most special Outlaw Tour to date. I just can’t wait to get back on the road again” Nelson said, in a prepared statement. 

The family & friends concert includes Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Gov’t Mule, Lucinda Williams, Ryan Bingham, Margo Price, Yola, Kathleen Edwards, Ida Mae, and more. 

The inaugural Outlaw Music Festival made its debut in 2016. Musicians such as Robert Plant, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Church, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers have been a part of the Outlaw Tour. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The following pop concerts scheduled to take place at Saratoga Performing Arts Center this year. For ticket information, go to: spac.org. 

June 18, 19 & 20: Trey Anastasio
July 18: Chicago
July 31: Rod Stewart/Cheap Trick
Aug. 15: Hall & Oates
Aug. 16: Lindsey Stirling
Aug. 27: Dead & Company 
Sept. 5: Alanis Morissette/Garbage/ Liz Phair 
Sept. 12: Willie Nelson & Family, Sturgill Simpson, Gov’t Mule, Margo Price 
Sept. 13: Maroon 5 
Sept. 14: The Black Crowes 
Sept. 17-18: Dave Matthews Band 
Sept. 28: Jonas Brothers
Oct. 3: Zac Brown Band 

Scheduled for 2022 at Saratoga Performing Arts Center: Doobie Brothers June 16; Steely Dan/Steve Winwood June 21; Tedeschi Trucks Band July 3; Backstreet Boys July 23; Matchbox Twenty July 31; Goo Goo Dolls TBA 2022. 

Outside the Region: Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, the Creator, Miley Cyrus, Journey, Limp Bizkit, Jimmy Eat World, and others. Lolapalooza, Chicago, July 29 to Aug. 1.

Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer. North American Tour, July 24 – Sept. 6. Citi Field, Queens (Aug. 4), Fenway Park, Boston (Aug. 5). 

Guns N’ Roses, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, others. Northern California music, food and wine festival, Napa Valley Expo Sept. 3-5.

Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, KORN, Judas Priest, Snoop Dogg, Jane’s Addiction, Staind, Anthrax, others.  Louder Than Life, Highland Festival Grounds Louisville, Kentucky Sept. 23-26. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Performing Arts Center has relaunched Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK, a GPS-enabled work of public art that uses music to illuminate the natural environment in the Saratoga Spa State Park. 

SOUNDWALK returns as a year-round installation available until June 1, 2022. 

Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid and co-commissioned by Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK is an immersive audio experience tailor-made for the Saratoga Spa State Park featuring its famous natural springs, wooded areas, a geyser, a waterfall and now also additional trails featuring the reflecting pool and Avenue of the Pines. The exhibit is free to the public and can be experienced while following social distancing guidelines. 

Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK features a newly written score, performed by SOUNDWALK Ensemble, as well as special musical “Easter eggs” hidden around the park for participants to discover. The new installation features ten times the amount of composed material as the 2020 installation along with a significantly expanded map. 

After downloading the free app and putting on headphones, participants embark on an expanded route around the Saratoga Spa State Park, featuring the Avenue of the Pines, the reflecting pool area, the Vale and Geyser Springs, and more. Movement around the park triggers Ellen Reid’s soundscape — musical cells which she carefully crafted to harmonize with the park’s landscape and attractions. The experience is guided by the listener: the path the participant chooses dictates the music they hear, ensuring that no two visits will be exactly the same. 

BALLSTON SPA — Free movies in Wiswall Park are back for the 14th summer in a row.

The series begins on June 4 (rain date June 5) with “Trolls.” “The Croods” will be shown on July 2 (rain date July 3), “Frozen 2” on Aug. 6 (rain date Aug. 7) and “The Secret Life of Pets 2” on Sept. 3 (rain date Sept. 4). All films are family-friendly.

The movies are projected onto the wall of the adjacent Front Street Deli building on Front Street in the village and begin at dusk (approximately 8:30-8:45 p.m.). All screenings are free. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. We will follow any continuing guidelines for safe public gatherings that may be in effect at the time of the event. These may include social
distancing measures, face masks and limited capacity in the park for movie viewers.

The movies are presented by the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association, as part of its First Friday activities. The Association, established in 1983, is a non-profit organization committed to making the Village of Ballston Spa a great place to live, work and visit. To learn more, visit at www.ballston.org.