SPAC News: James Taylor, Pitbull, Lil Jon, and 60th Anniversary Artwork
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been a busy fortnight for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), which is gearing up for its historic 60th season.
James Taylor, a six-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, will take the SPAC stage alongside his All-Star Band on June 29, Live Nation recently announced. Taylor is perhaps best known for his originals “Fire and Rain” and “Sweet Baby James,” as well as his renditions of “You’ve Got a Friend” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You).” His 1970 album “Sweet Baby James” nearly cracked the top 100 of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list. His eponymous debut album was released by The Beatles’ Apple Records, and its track “Something in the Way She Moves” inspired the creation of “Something” by The Beatles. Taylor’s latest record, “American Standard,” won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Rapper Pitbull has sold more than 25 million studio albums worldwide and has amassed more than 15 billion views on YouTube, arguably making him one of the most popular musical acts on the planet. His debut album “M.I.A.M.I.,” released in 2024, was executive produced by Lil Jon, who will open for Pitbull during their joint SPAC performance on Sept. 2. Lil Jon’s hits “Get Low” and “Turn Down for What” have each garnered hundreds of millions of plays on Spotify (not to mention inspired countless meme videos).
SPAC also recently unveiled its official 2026 season artwork, designed by Shawn Carney (The New York Times Style Magazine, Wall Street Journal). As part of his creative process, Carney dug through SPAC’s archives, sifting through boxes and filing cabinets filled with thousands of items, such as newspaper clippings, booklets, ticket stubs, and posters.
“I wanted the artwork to acknowledge SPAC’s rich history without being a throwback,” Carney said. “After all, SPAC doesn’t just live in the archives—it’s very much alive today and flourishing in all sorts of new ways. Standing among the piles of paper however, it occurred to me that perhaps the illustration could be paper itself. That led to a more tactile approach, and I began sketching forms built from curled, hand-shaped sheets. The final design is intentionally tactile and handcrafted. My hope is that the artwork reflects the craft, labor, and human touch behind sixty seasons of live performance. It also highlights the subtle and poetic side of the venue and the experiences within its gates. The design feels classic and timeless, nods to SPAC’s history, but leaves open space for more of its future to be recorded.”
Additional announcements related to SPAC’s 60th anniversary season—including performances, special events, and commemorative initiatives—will be revealed throughout the year.