Powers Park Twentieth Anniversary – by Vito Ciccarelli

It’s hard to believe that 2 decades have passed since the first show at the park. Over the years, the once dormant park, has come alive, each & every Saturday evening, throughout July & August.

Troy’s Deputy Mayor at the time, Dan Crawley, said he & then Mayor Harry Tutunjian, would like to better utilize the park for some events, and asked me to put together a couple of shows to test the waters. Up until that time, the historic park was offering nothing but a couple of ‘flea markets. Our first show drew around thirty-five people, with the next show getting rained out. I put together a 6-week schedule for year two, and things began to happen. Crowds of 200 – 300 began coming in, which prompted the city to build a 20’ x 30’ stage. In year three, the aeries took on a new life, when we brought in the North 40 Band – our first country show. More than 1,500 people flooded the park, and all of a sudden, the concert series was on people’s radar. I find it funny when I hear acts claiming they made the series turn the corner. Make no mistake, the meteoric rise, began with that show. The event became a happening, with its positive reputation spreading to our outlying communities, & neighboring states. Now operating with a full slate of food vendors, car shows, giant 50/50 raffles, door prizes, and some of the top names in local music, the series continues to grow & prosper.

Being it’s our anniversary, we decided to pull out all the stops, and book all the top names in local entertainment. We begin on July 8^th, with a huge car show, presented by the ‘Adirondack Muscle Car’ group, followed by a double billed powerhouse Country Rock/Country concert with two of the best in the business, Beatin the Odds (3pm), & Skeeter Creek at 6pm.  BTO features the dynamic vocals of veteran front man, Dan Fourtin, and the 2 headed guitar monster, Mike Hughes, & Kenny Albright setting the tone of some insanely good Country Rock, . Skeeter Creek is recognized locally as the best in the business, drawing huge crowds wherever they go. Led by the husband/wife team of Dave Ahl, & the amazing Renee Lussier, the group covers a wide variety of classic, to modern Country.

Local favorite, Brian Kane & the Beginning, who packed the park last year, comes back on July 15, with an all-star lineup, playing a mixed bag of tricks. Brian is a hometown ‘Burgh guy’, who has achieved great success since morphing from a well-received solo act, to a full band.  The #1 Bruce Springsteen tribute act in the US, ‘The B-Street Band’, will hit the Neil Kelleher Stage on July 22. They’ve been thrilling audiences worldwide for more than 30 years, and will now bring their talents to the historic park, headlining ‘Fane Family Night’.

Legacy, a tribute act, replicating the musical magic of Journey & Foreigner, makes their second appearance at Powers Park on July 29.  Led by the amazing vocals of crooner, Joe Shepis, the group covers the timeless music, with both great precision and skill. The iconic, ‘Refrigerators’ return to Powers,on August 5 always providing a fantastic show of mixed, musical genres. Long known as the 518’s top dance band, the Fridges always put on a fantastic show, always living up to their well-deserved reputation. The dance party at the park continues into the follow show on August 12, features second generation band, The Accents. The group has long been one of the area’s most versatile ensembles, with a storied history spanning back to the 1970’s. Playing a mix of today’s popular music, blended in with classic Motown & Rock, this group always leave the crowd wanting more. Big Sky Country makes their return to the ‘Burgh (after a 10-year absence) on August 19. Led by the dynamic vocals of Ashley Drennan & Chris Dukes, the group always puts on a high energy, modern Country show.

A mini Blues Fest will mark the final show of the 20^th Anniversary season, with local great, Matt Mirabile, opening for world renown Bluesman, Albert J. Cummings, headlining our annual end of the season, Veterans Tribute. I’ve had the pleasure of working with both of these acts over the years, and it promised to be one of the most rockin shows in the 20-year history of the event. All proceeds from 50/50, will go to the CVMA New York Chapter 19-1, who provide community outreach to veterans in need.

So, make plans to join Radioradiox in making the 20th Anniversary season, the best one yet! Food is provided weekly by Big Bellies, Famous Lunch, & Mr. Ding a Ling. Bring a lawn chair, but please, no pets of any kind are allowed.