BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Sounds of Summer Concert series is celebrating its five-year anniversary on Sunday with a concert featuring the Jazz Ambassadors, who are performing under the leadership of Dennis Searles. 

All of the participating musicians are from the Greater Capital Region. The Ambassadors will be performing a variety of jazz genres and showtunes from the newly-restored front porch of the Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa. Admission is free. The performance is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Yacht rockers, parrotheads, and a whole lot of boomers stormed SPAC on Monday night for a double-header of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and the legendary Doobie Brothers, featuring the one-of-a-kind Michael McDonald.

The Reefer Band—Buffett’s backing group that has continued touring after the “Margaritaville” singer’s death in 2023—delivered exactly what was expected of them. With images of cheeseburger palm trees and dancing spring breakers behind them, they cranked out Buffett’s signature tunes in the same style as their former band leader. “License to Chill,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” were all part of the predictable repertoire. 

One of the Reefer singers seemed to incorrectly identify SPAC’s host city as “Sarasota Springs,” though, in a sense, this was not entirely inaccurate given the band brought a taste of Florida to Upstate New York. 

The headlining Doobie Brothers then took the stage, playing a setlist that spanned from classic 70s hits to cuts off their new, well-reviewed 2025 album “Walk this Road.” Towards the end of their set, the group strung together a series of tracks that blended seamlessly into one another. The presence of both yacht rock god/keyboardist McDonald and sax player Marc Russo was more than welcome, offering a richness of sound that culminated in a seemingly improvised piano and sax solo during the encore. This jam led into a rousing edition of “Takin’ It to the Streets,” proving the Doobies still got it after 55 years in business.

Some of their latest offerings, such as “Walk this Road,” “Angels & Mercy,” and “Call Me” were surprisingly good, defying the cliche that aging rock bands can’t put out decent new material. “Listen to the Music” was the fitting final encore song that sent the nearly-full amphitheater crowd to the exits.

The SPAC show closed out the summer leg of the Doobies/Coral Reefer tour. They’ll be takin’ it to the streets once again on Sept. 4 for a show in St. Louis.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The lineup for the fifth annual Saratoga Book Festival (SBF) have been revealed. The citywide event will take place from Thursday, Oct. 2 until Sunday, Oct. 5, and will feature more than 50 presenters, 30 author sessions, the Literary Night Market, Sunday KidZone, a film screening, and live music. Events are free, except when noted. 

Headline Events

• Béla Fleck, the nineteen-time Grammy-winning banjoist; Edmar Castañeda, the jazz harp trailblazer; and Antonio Sánchez, the visionary drummer open this year’s SBF with a blend of jazz, classical, Latin, and world rhythms that defies categorization. Co-presented with Universal Preservation Hall.

• Kate DiCamillo, two-time Newbery Medalist, and two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall discuss their new novel “Lost Evangeline,” an original fairy tale set in the world of The Puppets of Spelhorst and The Hotel Balzaar. Co-presented with Northshire Bookstore.

• Tom Piazza, a celebrated author, Grammy-winning music writer, and TV scriptwriter delivers an evening of songs and stories inspired by his new memoir, “Living in the Present with John Prine.”  

• Ruth Reichl, award-winning chef, food journalist, and bestselling author, speaks about her culinary life and her newest book “The Paris Novel” with Tiina Loite, fashion editor for Saratoga Living.

• Amity Gaige, acclaimed author of “Heartwood,” an instant national bestseller with Halimah Marcus, interlocutor, author, and executive editor of Electric Literature. 

• Chris Bohjalian, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, will talk about his newest historical fiction novel “The Jackal’s Mistress,” a Civil War “Romeo and Juliet” with WMAC Radio’s Joe Donahue.

AI Focus Sessions 

• “AI Impact on Education & the Arts,” moderated by Robert Lippman

• “AI: Living in a Post-Human World” with speaker and futurist Sam Rad, author of “Radical Next”

• “AI Keynote–What Comes Next” with Gary Rivlin and Matthew Lucas: Rivlin, a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative reporter and author of “AI Valley” and Matthew Lucas, professor of business and the vice chair of AI strategy at Skidmore College, discuss the latest breakthroughs of generative AI and developments that are changing the way we live and work.

Festival Beyond the Book Events

• Literary Night Market: more than 60 local authors of fiction and nonfiction for teens and adults, literary-themed live music, light bites, and a cash bar.

• KidZone Arts and crafts: performances and other hands-on fun presented by local children’s authors, illustrators, publishers, and performers.

• Not An Ordinary House–Making a Home with Love and Purpose: Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein, founders of the HGTV show and viral Instagram feed “Cheap Old Houses,” and authors of “Cheap Old Houses: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home” join Chloe Barcelou and Brandon Batchelder, authors of “Tales of a Not So Tiny House” about creating a home you love when money is tight.

• Lit Night Presents “Teatime at Pemberley: A Celebration of Jane Austen in Words and Music”: Enjoy an immersive exploration of Austen’s life and works, curated by host and Lit Night Founder Kristina Kulin in Caffè Lena’s storied listening room. October 4, 2:30 pm at Caffè Lena. 

• Screening of TV Pilot “BOOKS”: Discussion with filmmakers Tim Cahill, Kristina Libby, Nicole Ihasz (co-owner of Northshire Bookstore), and Matt Witten about adapting books to screen, writing for TV, their newest projects, and why they love independent bookstores.

More Festival Sessions

• Friends with Secrets: Historical Fiction Panel with Juliette Fay, Marjan Kamali, and Kim van Alkemade

• Ties That Bind: Crime Fiction Panel with Saratoga Shaefer, Jennifer Fawcett, Cleyvis Natera, and Emily Layden

• YA Fantasy Session with Allyson Dahlin and Katherine Harbour

• Rogues and Witches: Fantasy Panel with Shannon Chakraborty, Mai Corland, and Sydney Shields

• Family Saga Fiction with Serena Burdick, Jessica Shattuck, and Jack Rightmyer

• True Crime Panel with Jerry C. Drake and Ron Hughes

• Thrills and Chills: Horror Panel with Victoria Dalpe, Eric LaRocca, Michael J. Seidlinger, and Paul Tremblay

• Rom Com Happy Hour with Nicolas DiDomizio and London Sperry

 Friday Matinee Sessions

• Margaret Pearson (I-Ching)

• Dr. Catherine J. Golden (Jane Austen, Incorporated)

• Steve Stern (A Fool’s Kabbalah) with Melora Wolff (Bequeath: Essays)

• Mason Stokes (All the Truth That I Can Stand) with Marcus Kwame Anderson (Big Jim and the White Boy)

• Lauren Cobello, founder and CEO of Leverage with Media PR, renowned national media personality and 3x author (Marketing and PR for Authors)

• Author Open House hosted by Vicki Addesso Dodd, founder of Saratoga Springs Publishing

Check saratogabookfestival.org for the complete schedule of events after Labor Day.

SPAC Presents Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concertos

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) announced last week that the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concertos on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. at the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.

A longtime holiday tradition at Lincoln Center, this special Saratoga appearance marks the first time in SPAC’s 12-year partnership with CMS that the full cycle of all six concertos will be performed locally by the acclaimed group. Part of SPAC’s Sounds of the Season holiday series, the evening will feature twenty world-class CMS musicians, bringing one of the Baroque era’s most iconic masterworks to life.

 Composed in the early 18th century, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos were written for a unique ensemble of instruments—ranging from the interplay of flutes, violins, and harpsichord to the sonorities of horns and violas—offering a variety of sounds and styles.

 Part of its year-round presence in Saratoga Springs, the announcement precedes Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s final concert of the summer season with “Shostakovich and Dohnányi” on Aug. 17, which also marks the final performances in Spa Little Theater before it temporarily closes for renovation.

 Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos will be presented in the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College, a longtime SPAC education and community partner. Tickets are now available to purchase at spac.org.

The performance is part of SPAC’s annual Sounds of the Season holiday series, which will be announced later this fall.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was standing room only at Putnam Place when a mix of silky smooth vocals and Cuban jazz sounds swirled together.

Caffe Lena presented a seven-person collaboration (including four vocalists) on Tuesday night that featured Lena’s resident jazz pianist Chuck Lamb, Havana-born pianist/composer Jorge Gómez, and singer-songwriter Ria Curley.

After Curley sang with the group for a handful of tracks, Lamb and Gómez performed a series of instrumentals off their “Take 2” album, including the eponymous “Take 2,” which featured a spirited solo on keys by Gómez; “Chabrosa,” a danceable song that included Gómez’s head being smacked by the conga player (presumably for added rhythm); and “Phase 2,” a funky, Dr. John-inspired tune with a blistering tenor sax solo. The ensemble also debuted a new piece from their forthcoming EP (aptly named “Take 3”) called “Estudio.”

Accompanying the sonics was a projected display of Cuban art and photography, showcasing the country’s famous cigars, classic cars, and colorful architecture. The show also included an opening set by the Jazz Pebbles, a youth ensemble from Lena’s School of Music.

Lamb is a longtime member of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, known for his expressive playing and genre-blending compositions that span jazz, classical, fusion, and world music. Gómez is the founder of the three-time Grammy-nominated band Tiempo Libre, famous for their blend of Latin jazz and Cuban timba.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Northshire Bookstore announced on Wednesday that it has reopened its children’s floor, which had previously been closed due to water damage.

“The space won’t look exactly how our loyal customers remember it – we’re rocking a bit of a warehouse chic look, with bare concrete floors while we await new carpets,” Northshire said in an email sent to its customers. “Our beloved model train has also seen better days, but it will return to form along with some other minor details in the coming weeks. But the spirit of Northshire – our hospitality and bookish enthusiasm are undimmed!”

Some sections of the children’s department may be light on inventory, the store added, but missing titles can be ordered in the meantime. The Story Time in Saratoga program will remain on hiatus until further notice. 

“We are working tirelessly to return our Saratoga store to its usual standards, and we are grateful for your continued patience and understanding while we do so,” said Northshire.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) recently announced its first “Pop-Up Choir” event, welcoming singers of all ages and abilities to collaboratively perform “Defying Gravity” from the popular musical “Wicked.”

Presented by SPAC Education, the event is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at SPAC School of the Arts. The event is free, however advance registration at spac.org is required. No experience is necessary. Sheet music and practice recordings will be provided ahead of time.