SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to its summer home in Saratoga opening its three-week residency at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on July 31.

This weekend’s events include Angélique Kidjo with The Philadelphia Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 2, and the Harry Potter Film Concert Series featuring Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. 

An Evening with John Legend – A Night of Songs and Stories with The Philadelphia Orchestra will stage Wednesday, Aug. 7. The evening will feature intimate reimagining’s of Legend’s greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from his life and career, and selections from his most recent release LEGEND (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”). 

Philadelphia Orchestra Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will return to the podium to lead a program exclusive to SPAC on Thursday, Aug. 8. 

The 2024 season will continue through Aug. 17 – returning by popular demand is an appearance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma on Aug. 16, and details about all upcoming performances may be found at: spac.org.

ALBANY— Blues icon. Soul man and rock and roller Robert Cray will perform with his band at The Egg Oct. 17. 

From forming a teenage garage band, through to striding the stage alongside several of the world’s greatest guitarists, Cray’s story of struggle and commitment led him to enjoying phenomenal success,  selling millions of albums and countless concert tickets and designing two signature model Fender guitars.

Cray’s Groovin’ for 50 Years Tour stages at The Egg in Albany on Thursday, Oct. 17 Tickets are $49.50, $39.50. Go to: theegg.org. 

Whether you are a long time Saratogian or visiting for your first time this summer, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

SPAC is Saratoga’s resident amphitheater nestled among the towering pines of the Saratoga Spa State Park. I have seen many artists preform on a variety of different stages from open grass fields, festival settings, and arena tours and still SPAC will always feel special to me. The perfect balance of big stage quality with a close community feel…and Dierks Bentley seems to agree. 

After kicking off the Gravel and Gold concert on July 18, Dierks made sure to tell his fans why performing in Saratoga is special to him. He talked about having performed at many different venues throughout his career but said playing at SPAC feels like you’re playing in someone’s backyard. 

That exact feeling is why I think so many people love SPAC. You simply feel closer to the artist. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone connect with their crowd as much as Dierks Bentley did. 

He was high energy all night: running across stage, talking with fans – even inviting a couple to go up on stage with him, and encouraging the crowd to raise another beer. It felt like a big party all night long. 

Standing there getting to watch him perform was an amazing experience. There was chanting and cheering and singing along, from “I Hold On” to “Somewhere on a Beach” – which Dierks said, somewhere on Saratoga Lake!! – there were people who sang along like every word was written for them. 

When everyone thought the show was over and the band played what we all thought was the last song of the night, Dierks Bentley came back out on stage wearing a pilot’s costume to perform “Drunk on a Plane,” and followed it up with another costume change, this time with the band wearing wigs and dressed up as his parody band Hot Country Knights. They played a few more songs to eventually end the night. Simply put… I had a great time! It was one amazing night.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — “It was time to bring back the art form of spoken word, where there’s a story with music behind it,” says country, bluegrass, and Americana legend John McEuen regarding his new album “The Newsman: A Man Of Record.”

The record, featuring 10 spoken word tracks and one instrumental piece, was released on Compass Records this week. On Aug. 9, McEuen performs live at Caffe Lena.  

The collection spans various literary themes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Civil War-era poem “Killed at the Ford” to Robert Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee” about a Yukon prospector. 

“The music does not have to reflect anything like a melody, so it’s supportive of the words,” says McEuen, who was born in California in 1945 and began his musical journey at 16 while working in a magic shop alongside Steve Martin, and later became co-founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, orchestrated the groundbreaking “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” album, and to date counts more than three-dozen albums in which he featured prominently. 

“I chose some pieces that were not spoken words with music but made them so, and some pieces that were definite spoken words with music and tried to support them as well,” he says. 

For more information about the artist, visit johnmceuen.com. For tickets to the Caffe Lena show on Aug. 9, go to: caffelena.org.   

CLIFTON PARK­ —Through live performance and music, an evening of Jewish Storytelling will be presented at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 28 at Congregation Beth Shalom, 688 Clifton Park Center Road. 

The performance presents stories and melodies – historically part of Jewish culture and civilization – serving as a reminder of the past, a celebration of the present, and a hope for the future.

“Sharing stories often increases empathy among community members, as they recognize and share in each other’s experiences,” Phyllis Wang, Coordinator of Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival, said in a statement. Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival is presenting the program. 

A $10 donation per person is requested at the door and registration is required at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/UK8YVX9/TraditionJuly28. The program also will be available on Zoom.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Spring Street Gallery invites the public to join an opening reception and artist talk for “Vibrant View” showcasing the artwork of Soliven Melindo and Max Litvinov from 4-6 p.m. on July 20. The exhibit will run from July 20-Sept. 13.

Both Melindo and Litvinov use bright colors in their work that can create experiences in color expression. Their bright hues of pink, blue, yellow and green, among other colors, are playful and friendly. The works’ subject matter, landscapes and still lives, will bring joyful energy into a viewers’ home and or office. 

 Spring Street Gallery will also be continuing the mail art project. This project showcases posted mail artwork created by our own community. The artwork received is displayed in our gallery hallway at 110 Spring Street in Saratoga. You do not have to be a working artist to participate. All ages are welcome. Pick up your free postcard today at the Saratoga Springs library bulletin area or at Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring St. All artworks will be documented and placed on our website for all to see in mid-September. 

 A portion of the sales from this exhibit will benefit LifeWorks Community Action. LifeWorks Community Action – formerly Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) – is a nonprofit established in 1965 that works to alleviate poverty at the local level in Saratoga County and the Northern Capital Region.

Gallery hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, go to: springstreetgallerysaratoga.org. Spring Street Gallery is located at 110 Spring St., Saratoga Springs.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS —A gathering of approximately 150 people enjoyed a night of creativity titled “The Future of Broadway: A Musical Showcase of Contemporary Composers,” on the campus lawn at Skidmore College July 11. 

The event was part of The Orchard Project’s 2024 Arts Festival presented July 11-13 in Saratoga Springs. The artistic development laboratory and accelerator for creators of performance and dramatic stories presents programs in New York City and in Saratoga Springs 

The event featured Ryan Miller (founding member of Guster), Nick Blaemire, Jesse J. Sanchez, Zack Zadek, Anna Denoia & Joshua Villa. 

Miller performed songs from his upcoming musical “Safety Not Guaranteed,” that will see its premiere in a five-week run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music beginning Sept 17.