News
July 5, 2016Music Haven Concert Series to Launch July 10
The Music Haven Concert Series continues its grand tradition of ‘traveling the world one concert at a time’ with a bold 2016 season of thrilling, free, open-air concerts in Schenectady’s Central Park.
“This year’s series is stacked with international touring talent that promises to transport Music Haven audiences to some incredible destinations,” says Producing Artistic Director Mona Golub. “We’ll head to Senegal, Nashville, Puerto Rico, Trinidad& Tobago, Jamaica, Harlem, Ukraine, Macedonia, Cuba and County Sligo, Ireland before we’re through.
Pape Diouf et La Génération Consciente opens the season of free 7 p.m. Sunday concerts (running July 10–Aug. 14) with an evening of Mbalax, a pulsating fusion of Western pop and sabar. Dobro master Jerry Douglas follows, presentingThe Earls of Leicester, an all-star bluegrass combo honoring genre pioneers Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. Folklore meets the dance floor with Gary Nuñez y Plena Libre’s blast of Puerto Rican plena and bomba, a scintillating riot of hand drums, hard-hitting horns and rich vocal harmonies. Famed pianist Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Trio fuses jazz and pop with Jamaican riddims.DakhaBrakha, representing a new region for the Music Haven, brings mesmerizing Ukrainian ‘folkdrone Björkpunk’ to the area for the first time. And County Sligo’s Dervish continues the series’ long commitment to the sounds of the North Atlantic with tradition-based, boundary-testing Irish tunes.
The Music Haven Concert Series Summer Social – a casual, ticketed dinner buffet under the Central Park pavilion, with backstage dessert afterglow with the artists—is wrapped around the season’s grand finale with Dervish, Sunday, Aug. 14.
“It’s a particular thrill to present living legends Monty Alexander and Jerry Douglas,” Golub says. “And I can’t wait to introduce our adventurous audience to DakhaBrakha, the first Ukrainian artists ever to perform at Music Haven.”
“As always, I’m inspired by brilliant, diverse and often underexposed international talent, as well as new artists who are opening ears and turning heads. Their passion in performance is undeniable and their connection with the audience often runs deeper than the music.”
To that end, talented local and international artists will also be featured as special guests at each concert, ranging from the youthful energy of Umoja African Dance & Drumming to the Balkan-gypsy-flamenco-jazz fusion of Tavche Gravche. The acoustic hillbilly rock and roll of the Capital Region’s own Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys will contrast with the bright Caribbean beats of Alfred St. John’s Trinidad & Tobago Steelband, Jose Conde’s rustic Cuban roots and the lilt of Boston Celtic favorites Matt & Shannon Heaton.
Home Style Caterers returns with a variety of complete meals, snacks and beverages—including special fare related to the evening’s musical theme—beginning at 6 p.m. each Sunday. And Ben & Jerry’s will scoop premium ice cream at each show.
In the case of inclement weather, Proctors remains the official rain site for the Music Haven Concert Series.
For biographical information about the artists scheduled to perform, related news articles and archives of seasons past, visit Music Haven’s website, www.musichavenstage.org. For updates and new details about upcoming shows—including weather calls—or to offer comments about your experiences at the Music Haven, visit the Music Haven Concert Series on Facebook, or follow the series on Twitter @MusicHavenStage.
The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven is family-friendly, easily accessible and has been oft-voted the “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in the Capital Region.
Price Chopper and General Electric are the Presenting Co-Sponsors for the Music Haven Concert Series.
Concert and Media Sponsors include Bast Hatfield, Benchemark Printing, CBS6, CDTA, The Daily Gazette, FAM Funds, Freihofer’s, Galesi Group, GOYA, Hampton Inn & Suites–Albany Airport, Head to Tail, Lia Auto Group, MVP Health Care, Mohawk Honda, Nippertown.com, Polar Beverages, The Schenectady Foundation, Snapple, Time Warner Cable and WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
And seasonal supporters include Adirondack Beverages, BBL Hospitality, Berkshire Bank, COOL Insuring Agency, Ellis Medicine, Experience & Creative Design, Jewish Federation of NENY, Joan Heffler Photography, Mazzone Hospitality, NBT Bank, Old World Provisions, Reel Seafood Co., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Stewart’s Shops, Tablecloths for Granted, Tri City Rentals and TrustCo Bank.
Join us in traveling the world one concert at a time!
