Whassup in the 518? Weekend Shows 10/3-10/5

Whassup in the 518

Friday, October 3^rd

MUSTARD‘S RETREAT (David Tamulevich & Libby Glover) has for decades been delighting audiences as raconteurs, storytellers and accomplished musicians (vocals, guitars, dulcimer, electric bass, mandolin, harmonica, pennywhistle). They weave the fantastic with the everyday, the romantic with the comical – deceptively simple, uniquely magical. An evening with the duo will leave you laughs enough for days and memories for years to come.

United We Dance: The Ultimate Rave Experience, Empire Live, Albany, 9:30pm

The Garcia Project – 15th Anniversary 518 Homecoming Show, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7pm-11pm

Vinyl Vault, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 8pm-11pm

Get ready to dance! Vinyl Vault brings the classics to life with powerhouse frontwoman Tara Jurzek and a party vibe you won’t forget!

First Friday at The Eleven with Oobleck, The Eleven, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Annie in the Water w/s/g Escaper, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-12am

Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads w/ Dr. Jah & The Love Prophets, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 8:30pm-11:45pm

On “Life During Wartime,” the first single from Talking Heads’ 1979 album Fear of Music, David Byrne famously sang the immortal lyrics, “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…no time for dancing…” Yet all those anti-fun declarations go gleefully out the window when Tom Tom Club alum, Mystic Bowie, aka the “Head Dread,” takes the stage, re-imagining and infusing fresh life into TH’s classic catalog with his high octane mix of roots reggae, ska and lover’s rock (aka “romantic reggae”).

Nordlys Global Voices Series: Hasan Isakkut, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 8pm-10pm

Experience a transcendent evening of rich musical heritage and modern artistry with renowned Turkish composer and multi-instrumentalist Hasan Isakkut.

Born in Adana, Turkey, and now based in New York, Hasan Isakkut is a master of the kanun and violin, blending the intricate beauty of Classical Turkish music with Middle Eastern jazz, world fusion, and new age elements. Over the course of his international career, he has collaborated with musical luminaries such as Brian Keane, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Simon Shaheen, Richie Havens, and Ara Dinkjian, with performances at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall and Town Hall on Broadway.

History-Themed Burlesque / Drag Cabaret, Lost and Found, Albany, 10pm

Sara Devoe / The Belle Curves / Belle-Skinner / Sabrina Trueheart, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-8pm

From “Bar People.”

10/3 3:00 PM Pat Decker- Kings Tavern

10/3 3:00 PM Refrigerator’s- Wicked Eatery

10/3 5:00 PM Eric Erickson- Yanni’s Too

10/3 5:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Wheatfields Clifton Park

10/3 5:30 PM Next Chapter- Wishing Well

10/3 5:30 PM Open Mic- Real McCoy Brewery Ballston Spa

10/3 6:00 PM Al & Kathy Bain- Olde Bryan Inn

10/3 6:00 PM Caity Gallagher- Indian Ladder Farms

10/3 6:00 PM Chris Carey & Tim Wechgelaer- Cock & Bull

10/3 6:00 PM Eric Kufs- Carson’s Woodside Tavern

10/3 6:00 PM George Krakat- Powers Pub

10/3 6:00 PM Grit n Whiskey- Carsons Woodside Tavern

10/3 6:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Hill Creek Tavern

10/3 6:00 PM Justin Joyner- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

10/3 6:00 PM Keri Alonzo & Jeffrey Halstead- Panza’s

10/3 6:00 PM Matt Cosgrove- Spa City Tap & Barrel

10/3 6:00 PM Perennial- Lagos

10/3 6:00 PM Ragged Co.- Inn at Saratoga

10/3 6:00 PM Ragged Company- Inn at Saratoga

10/3 6:00 PM Shine On- Bound By Fate Brewing

10/3 6:00 PM Steve Candlen- Saratoga Winery

10/3 6:00 PM Tame The Rooster- Allied Brewing

10/3 6:00 PM Thom Powers & Friends- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

10/3 6:30 PM Chris Dollard- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

10/3 6:30 PM Frank Murray- Other One Brewery

10/3 6:30 PM Jo Henley- Artisanal Brew Works

10/3 7:00 PM Bad Monk- The Night Owl

10/3 7:00 PM DJ Jason Irwin- Lewis Tavern

10/3 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena

10/3 7:00 PM Mike Grosshandler- Bunker Mohawk Harbor

10/3 7:00 PM On Tap Duo- Kraverie

10/3 7:00 PM Stirred Up- The Bunker Saratoga

10/3 7:30 PM Geo Doody- Watervliet Elks Club

10/3 8:00 PM DJ Postman- Misfit

10/3 8:00 PM Hasan Isakkut- Caffe Lena

10/3 8:00 PM Matt O’ Rourke- Bourbon Room

10/3 8:00 PM North & South Dakotas- Druthers Saratoga

10/3 8:00 PM Ryan Clark- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga

10/3 8:00 PM Tailspin- Holy Moses Tavern

10/3 8:00 PM Vinyl Vault- Rustic Barn Pub

10/3 8:30 PM Mystic Bowies Talkin Dreads & Dr Jah & The Love Prophets- Putnam Place

10/3 9:00 PM DJ Chizzzik & DJ Biz- The Night Owl

10/3 9:00 PM Karaoke- Towne Tavern

10/3 9:00 PM Tim Olsen Quartet- Nine Maple

10/3 9:30 PM LPN- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, October 4^th

Caffè Lena @ SPAC, Saratoga Springs, 12pm

Join us for the return of Caffè Lena @ SPAC—a full day of free live music on the Charles R. Wood Stage.

This year’s lineup features five bands that explore roots, global, bluegrass, pop, and indie-folk music, including Misty Blues, Tom Chapin, Chatham County Line, Farah Siraj, and Aleksi Campagne.

Downtown Schenectady Wing Walk 2025, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Walk through Downtown Schenectady visiting all your favorite restaurants to try their signature chicken wings – it’s the tastiest competition in town! Your ticket to the event provides you with one wing at each of the participating locations. Sample each delicious dish and then cast your vote for the winners!

Dylan Scott, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady

Curb Records recording artist Dylan Scott is a triple threat — a powerful vocalist with a deep, unmistakable drawl, an old-soul songwriter with a young spirit and a family man with a tender heart. The multi-Platinum singer has notched six No. 1 singles at radio (“My Girl,” “Nobody,” “New Truck,” “Can’t Have Mine,” “Boys Back Home” with Dylan Marlowe and “This Town’s Been Too Good To Us”), as well as Top 5 hit “Hooked.” Following his first career nomination for Best New Country Artist at the all-genre iHeartRadio Music Awards and a coveted spot among Country Radio Seminar’s New Faces of Country Music, his Platinum-certified ode to his wife, “Nobody,” earned him a 2021 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year.

Josh Blue, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

After his groundbreaking win on “Last Comic Standing” in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues worldwide. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” That same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth hour-long special, “Broccoli,” at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver.

Straight Jacket 30 Year Anniversary, Empire Live, Albany, 6:30pm

Archers – The Temporary High Tour Part 2, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

Listen to the Music: The Ultimate Tribute to The Doobie Brothers, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm-10pm

The Doobie Brothers are one of the most iconic Classic Rock bands of all time, having sold millions of albums and topping the charts with great hit songs such as China Grove, Long Train Running, What a Fool Believes, Black Water and, of course, Listen to the Music. After five decades, their music is still in heavy rotation on Classic Rock radio stations world wide.

Harmonic Duo, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 7pm-10pm

Experience the mesmerizing harmonies of the Harmonic Duo, with the sound of a full band!

Femininomenon “Taylor Swift Edition” The Life of a Showgirl Listening Party, Lark Hall, Albany, 7pm-11pm

Femininomenon “Taylor Swift Edition” The Life of a Showgirl Album Listening Party Live Performances by Sydney Worthley & DJ Fearless

Shakedown Citi, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:59pm

Ladies Night ft: King Bully & Sly Fox, Putnam Place, Saratoga Springs, 11pm-3am

Come get down on the biggest dance floor in Saratoga at our weekly Ladies Night with King Bully, Sly Fox and percussionists Seth Casale and Johnny Ellis.

King Bully blurs the lines between Dancehall, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, and Latin into what is a refreshing departure from anything else you’ve heard. The Troy NY native not only dominates the Capital Region club circuit, he also boasts an impressive list of concerts, which includes acts like Dababy, Lil Baby, Cardi B, Fabolous, DMX, Ja Rule, Ashanti and more. Always sure to get the crowd hype and the club packed, DJ King Bully is the sound that keeps any party going strong.

Guitarist Sly Fox is best knows as the front man for blues-rock outfit Sly Fox and The Hustlers.

Saratoga Book Festival: Tom Piazza – Living in the Present with John Prine, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm

Saratoga Book Festival and Caffè Lena present “John Prine: A Night of Song and Stories” with Tom Piazza, author of Living in the Present with John Prine.

In the spring of 2018, author, writer, and Yaddo alumni Tom Piazza climbed into a 1977 Coupe de Ville with the great singer-songwriter John Prine to write an article for the Oxford American. Their Florida road trip ignited a deep friendship, full of tall tales over epic meals, long nights playing guitar and trading songs, and visits back and forth between their homes in Nashville and New Orleans.

Along the way, John invited Tom to work with him to write a memoir, with John telling sprawling, often hilarious stories of his youth and family in Chicago and Kentucky, his breakthrough into the national spotlight, his riotous early years in the Nashville country scene, and much more. When John died suddenly of COVID in April 2020, that unfinished memoir evolved into Living in the Present with John Prine, an unforgettable portrait of the beloved musician in his late glory.

Desire + Johnny Jewel / Syd Silvair, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

10/4 11:00 PM King Bully & Sly Fox- Putnam Place

10/4 2:00 PM Doug Villano Band- Frog Alley Brewing

10/4 4:00 PM Geo Doody- Helderberg Mountain Brewing

10/4 4pm Matt Cosgrove – Baileys

10/4 5:00 PM Bennett Brothers- Artisanal Brew Works

10/4 5:00 PM Just In Time- Dancing Grain Farm Brewery

10/4 5:30 PM Next Chapter- Wishing Well

10/4 6:00 PM Arch Stanton Trio- Stella’s Pasta Bar at The Van Dyck

10/4 6:00 PM Big Empty- Wolf Hollow Brewing

10/4 6:00 PM Big Empty- Wolf Hollow Brewing

10/4 6:00 PM Christine Spero- Powers Pub

10/4 6:00 PM DC Steve- The View at Brookhaven Golf Course

10/4 6:00 PM Jeff Walton- Olde Bryan Inn

10/4 6:00 PM Luke Pavlus- Spa City Tap & Barrel

10/4 6:00 PM Mike Thomas – The Scarlet Knife

10/4 6:00 PM New York Players- Carsons Woodside Tavern

10/4 6:00 PM NY Players- Carson’s Woodside Tavern

10/4 6:00 PM On Tap Duo- Inn at Saratoga

10/4 6:00 PM TBD- Lagos

10/4 6:00 PM The White Caps wsg Marty Brown- Galley Bar

10/4 6:30 PM Colleen Pratt & Peg Delaney- Panza’s

10/4 6:30 PM Ryan Clark- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

10/4 7:00 PM 18Strings Of Trouble- Kraverie

10/4 7:00 PM 2096 Band- The Night Owl

10/4 7:00 PM Earlybirds- Palazzo Restaurant

10/4 7:00 PM Foggy Notions Band- Holy Moses Tavern

10/4 7:00 PM Hair Of The Dog- Parting Glass

10/4 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Rustic Barn Pub

10/4 7:00 PM Hot Vox Trio- Bunker Clifton Park

10/4 7:00 PM Juniper & Chris Carey- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

10/4 7:00 PM Shine On- Quarters

10/4 7:00 PM The Blackouts- The Bunker Saratoga

10/4 7:30 PM Josh Blue Comedy- Universal Preservation Hall

10/4 8:00 PM DJ Chris G- Misfit

10/4 8:00 PM Ill Funk Ensemble- September’s Too

10/4 8:00 PM Pepper Shakers- Druthers Saratoga

10/4 8:00 PM Ragged Company- Bourbon Room

10/4 8:00 PM Tailspin- Milton Tavern

10/4 9:00 PM DJ Nate Da Great & DJ Biz- The Night Owl

10/4 9:00 PM Keith Pray Group- Nine Maple

10/4 9:30 PM Schmooze- Spa City Tap & Barrel

10/4 3:00 PMDJ VisonMisfit

Sunday, October 5^th

From high school orchestra classmates to groundbreaking artists, Black Violin’s path reflects resilience, creativity, and the courage to challenge expectations. With their Black Violin Foundation reaching over 100,000 students each year, they’re building a legacy that transcends the stage, inspiring a new generation to dream boldly. Join them for an unforgettable night that celebrates growth, music, and the beauty of coming full circle.

Saratoga Book Festival The Paris Novel: A Conversation with Ruth Reichl, Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Book Festival is thrilled to present “The Paris Novel: A Conversation with Ruth Reichl.” Join us for an exclusive literary event featuring six-time James Beard Award winner Ruth Reichl, New York Times bestselling author of five memoirs, the cookbook “My Kitchen Year,” and two works of fiction, “Delicious!” and “The Paris Novel.”

Reichl will be interviewed by Tiina Loite, Fashion Editor at Saratoga Living magazine and a former photo editor at The New York Times. The two will discuss Reichl’s celebrated career in food writing, current culinary trends, and the inspiration behind “The Paris Novel.”

Punk Rock Flea Market, Empire Live, Albany, 11am-5pm

Tupelo Honey – A Van Morrison Celebration, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 3pm-5pm

They call him “Van The Man.” They call him “The Master.”  Tupelo Honey is a celebration of the music of the man with many names – Van Morrison! He was one of earliest inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and has written some of the most iconic songs in popular music: “Moondance”, “Into The Mystic”, “Brown Eyed Girl”, “Have I Told You Lately”, “Crazy Love”, “Someone Like You”, and the list goes on and on and on!

Tupelo Honey celebrates this impressive catalog of songs with a band made up of some of the finest musicians on the East Coast. Each band member is dynamic on their own, but as a band they are electric! Lead singer Jim DeRosa will have you convinced you are listening to Van himself! No special effects, no backing tracks, no tricks, just great music written by a legendary songwriter. Sing along, dance, and enjoy the music. We’re here to make sure that you have a wonderful time!

Tie Dye Workshop with Hippiefunland Tyedyes, Lark Hall, Albany, 11am-1pm

Momentum Series: Eileen Ivers & The Brigideens, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, 7pm-9pm

Get ready for a night of powerful, resonant, emotional songs with The Brigideens—a bold new acoustic roots band formed and led by Grammy-winning, Emmy-nominated, 9-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion Eileen Ivers. This dynamic, female-led ensemble brings together acclaimed vocalists and instrumentalists from the Celtic and Americana traditions to create a sound that’s both rooted and refreshing.

From traditional reels to soaring ballads and genre-blending originals, The Brigideens deliver a high-energy, emotionally resonant performance. Expect fiddle fireworks, driving banjo, vibrant percussion, rich harmonies, and stories that celebrate resilience, connection, and the flame of creativity.

Featuring:

• Eileen Ivers – fiddle
• Caitlin Maloney – lead vocals
• Hilary Hawke – banjo, upright bass, clarinet, spoons & vocals
• Anna Colliton – bodhrán, cajón, percussion
• Colin Forhan – guitar, tenor banjo, concertina & vocals

Named for Brigid, the Celtic patron of poets and healers, The Brigideens are keepers of a musical flame—honoring tradition while blazing their own trail. Their debut EP, The First Sessions – Live in Studio, arrives later this year, but you can experience the magic live, right here at Caffè Lena.

Lost in the Dark Comedy Showcase, Lost and Found, Albany, 6pm

The Wedding Funeral / Haunted Cat / Laughter Has Long Legs, No Fun, Albany, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

10/5 1:00 PM Bret Scott- Other One Brewery

10/5 1:00 PM The Bluebillies- Saratoga Therapeutic Equestrian Program

10/5 10:00 AM LB Walker- Spa City Farmers Market

10/5 2:00 PM Matty Finn- Galway Rock Winery

10/5 3:00 PM Eric Kufs- Druthers Saratoga

10/5 3:00 PM Jenna Sue- Al’s Roadhouse

10/5 3:00 PM Triple Trouble WSG Heather Meaney- Artisanal Brew Works

10/5 3:00 PM Wallies- Lagos

10/5 4:00 PM Funk Evolution- Carson’s Woodside Tavern

10/5 4:00 PM Funk Evolution- Carsons Woodside Tavern

10/5 6:00 PM Dave Gallagher- Thirsty Owl

10/5 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s

10/5 7:00 PM Eileen Ivers & The Bridgideens- Caffe Lena