Embark on a Cultural Journey: Proctors Collaborative Announces Three Shows at Saratoga Springs 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Zydeco legend Nathan Williams, Haitian vodou priestess Moonlight Benjamin, and “The Hendrix of the Sahara” Vieux Farka Touré will be coming to Universal Preservation Hall as part of the Passport Series at Proctors Collaborative in early 2025. 

The series is designed to transport audiences beyond borders, bringing diverse cultural experiences to the heart of the regional community. 

2023 Grammy nominee Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas will be in the Great Hall at UPH 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. His music blends zydeco, jazz, blues, and R&B, with most of the band’s original songs penned by Williams. 

As a longtime favorite of Martin Gore (Depeche Mode) and Iggy Pop, the Haitian vodou priestess Moonlight Benjamin explores the roots of blues and rock in this new opus in the Great Hall at UPH 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29. 

Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara”, Vieux Farka Touré was born in Niafunké, Mali in 1981. He is the son of legendary Malian guitar player Ali Farka Touré. Touré will be in the Great Hall at UPH, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26. 

In Schenectady: Kicking off this Passport Series season is Breabach 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 at the GE Theatre at Proctors. With multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations, Plena Libre will be in the GE Theatre at Proctors 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, and Damir Imamovic – who was immersed in the world of Balkan traditional music at a very young age – will be at the GE Theatre at Proctors 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 11. 

Tickets are on sale through the Box Office at Proctors in-person, via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or online by visiting atuph.org or atproctors.org. Groups of 10 or more can get tickets by calling 518-382-3884 x 139. With the Passport Series pass, you get to travel the world and see all six shows for the price of four.