Whassup in the 518? – Weekend Shows 2/20

Whassup in the 518?

Friday, February 20^th

The Naked Magicians (18+), Proctors Theatre, Schenectady, 7:30pm

With a Las Vegas residency, a season on London’s West End, and seen in 250+ cities across the globe… Australia’s “The Naked Magicians” is undoubtedly the world’s funniest and naughtiest magic show!

Witnessed by over 50 million on TV (NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS), including “America’s Got Talent” and “Entertainment Tonight,” it’s the Aussie smash hit that’s taken the world by storm!

Perfect for date night or the ultimate girls night out, “The Naked Magicians” have performed – and undressed – for millions of fans in more than 300 cities worldwide making them the most successful Australian magic act in history. The two hot and hilarious performers deliver world-class magic and non-stop laughs while wearing nothing but a top hat and a smile.

Elise Trouw Presents: The Diary of Elon Lust Tour, Empire Underground, Empire Underground, Albany, 8pm

Heated Rivalry Night, Empire Live, Albany, 9pm

Total Mass Retain YES Tribute Band, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 7:30pm

TOTAL MASS RETAIN YES TRIBUTE BAND returns to Cohoes on Friday, February 20, 2026!!!

Performing two classic albums in full: The Yes Album + Close to the Edge

After they literally rocked the block at the Cohoes 2025 Summer Concert Series, and by immense demand from our community, the Cohoes Music Hall is proud to present the Officially Endorsed YES Tribute Band. Recognized by YES as the #1 YES Tribute Band, TMR delivers high energy and powerful renditions of YES fan favorites, classics, rarities, and epics.

Are.Sham.Bo, Rustic Barn Pub, Troy, 6:30pm-9:30pm

Are Sham Bo (Joe Archambeault) brings a solo acoustic set packed with rock, classics, and fun favorites everyone loves. Don’t miss this crowd-pleasing night of live music!

Happy Hour with Nymbis at The Eleven, Lark Hall, Albany, 6pm-8pm

Join us in welcoming Nymbis to The Eleven on Friday, February 20th at 6pm // FREE

Nymbis is a Capital Region band with Chuck Valentine on vocals and lead guitar, Brandon Wayletton drums, Austin Nicholsen on bass, Frankie McKinney on vocals and percussion, and Liz Conant on keyboards.

The Samples w/ Rob Beaulieu Band, Putnam Place, Saratoga, 8pm-11:45pm

The Samples, led by founding singer-songwriter Sean Kelly, have been blending rock, reggae, and folk into their signature melodic sound since emerging from Boulder, Colorado in the late ’80s. Best known for hits like “Nature,” “Did You Ever Look So Nice,” and “When It’s Raining,” the band built a devoted following through national touring, standout festival appearances, and their feel-good, harmony-rich live performances.

Heather Maloney with opener High Tea, Caffe Lena, Saratoga, 7pm-9pm

Massachusetts-based “writer song-singer” Heather Maloney creates music shaped by deep introspection, spiritual curiosity, and an unwavering devotion to storytelling. Before she was a touring musician, Maloney spent three years living and studying at a meditation center, days steeped in silence and the teachings of poets and seekers. That stillness shaped her artistic voice—one that combines the emotional depth of Joni Mitchell with the inward-looking precision of Rilke and the narrative resonance of Zen parables.

Hellseeker Goth Nite, No Fun, Troy, 8pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/20 4:00 PM Nocturne wsg Keegan James- Keuka Winery Tasting Room

2/20 6:00 PM Christine Spero- The Wishing Well

2/20 6:00 PM Dan Dekalb- 677 Prime

2/20 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Treehouse Brewery

2/20 6:00 PM Dave Gleason Trio- Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino

2/20 6:00 PM Derrick Forget- Spa City Tap & Barrel

2/20 6:00 PM Drank The Gold- Cock & Bull

2/20 6:00 PM John Stack- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/20 6:00 PM Mike & Alex- Quarters

2/20 6:00 PM Pat Decker- The Scarlet Knife

2/20 6:00 PM Peter Pashoukos- Inn at Saratoga

2/20 6:00 PM Russ Kennedy- Hilton Garden Inn,,, 30Park

2/20 6:00 PM Ryan Clark- Hank Hudson Brewing

2/20 6:00 PM Stef Solo- Saratoga Winery

2/20 6:00 PM String Drivers- Rail To River Brewing

2/20 6:00 PM Wayne & Joey- Elks Club in Wilton

2/20 6:30 PM Margo Macero- Artisanal Brew Works

2/20 6:30 PM Scot & Co.- Other One Brewery

2/20 6:30 PM Steve Candlen- DIamond Club at Embassy Suites

2/20 6:30pm Coverups Duo – Peddlers Bar & Bistro

2/20 7:00 PM Brendan Conley- Bunker Saratoga

2/20 7:00 PM CC Smokes- Bunker Clifton Park

2/20 7:00 PM EBlock Band- The Night Owl

2/20 7:00 PM Heather Maloney & High Tea- Caffe Lena

2/20 7:00 PM Jeff Walton- Principessa Elena

2/20 7:00 PM Joe’s Boys- The Bunker North Greenbush

2/20 7:00 PM Lifeline- Kraverie

2/20 7:00 PM Matty Finn- Dukes Chophouse At Rivers Casino

2/20 7:00 PM Papa Rich & The Wayward Souls- Parting Glass

2/20 8:00 PM DJ Eric Whin- Misfit

2/20 8:00 PM Ragged Company- Cooperstown Distilling Saratoga

2/20 8:00 PM Whiskey Creek- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

2/20 8:30 PM Dead Mans Waltz- Putnam Place

2/20 8:30 PM Out Of Office- Frog Alley Brewing

2/20 9:00 PM Matt Niedbalski Group- Nine Maple

2/20 9:30 PM Hit n Run- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Saturday, February 21^st

The 2026 Listen Up Awards, Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 3pm

The Listen Up Awards is a people’s choice music award ceremony celebrating local talent in the Capital Region created by Mirth Films and Radio Radio X. Your Vote, Your Choice.

To go along with the awards, each year features multiple live performances. Even with this being a people’s choice style award show, we have gone even farther to keep things fair. Winners of a Listen Up award can not be nominated the next year (in the same category) and the live performers are always winners from the previous year.

The goal of the Listen Up awards is to bring people together and celebrate all the local talent we have throughout the region in a fun manner.

2026 marks the 5 year anniversary of The Listen Up Awards which is why we are celebrating with a two day event. Saturday Feb 21st will be dedicated to honoring the scene’s heroes and Sunday Feb 22nd will be the 2026 award show!

Life in the Fast Lane, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 7:30pm

A tribute to the Eagles

It is without a doubt that LIFE IN THE FAST LANE® has brilliantly recreated the iconic sounds of the legendary Eagles. Blending 5 part harmonies and 3 guitars, they tightly execute the magical compositions of such songs as Best of My Love, Witchy Woman, Lyin Eyes, New Kid In Town, The Long Run, and the exquisitely layered “Hotel California.”
If you love the Eagles, then seeing Life in the Fast Lane perform is an absolute must! This tribute band doesn’t just play their songs—they live them. With a sound so close to the original, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time to one of the Eagles’ iconic concerts. From the soaring harmonies of Hotel California to the easy grooves of Take It Easy, Life in the Fast Lane brings every classic hit to life in a way that’s both authentic and electrifying.

Girls Night: The Musical, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady, 8pm

GIRLS NIGHT: THE MUSICAL has been thrilling audiences and earning rave reviews since its sensational Off-Broadway debut. This touching and hilarious’ tell-it-like-it-is’ musical takes audiences on a journey into the lives of a group of female friends .Audience members can’t help but laugh, cry and sing and dance in the aisles! Follow five friends as they visit their past, celebrate their present, and look to the future on a wild and hilarious night out … and you’ll recognize yourself in each of them! Described as “Desperate Housewives meets Mamma Mia” (Applause Magazine), and “As funny and outrageous as Sex and the City!”(The Advocate).GIRLS NIGHT is bursting with energy and packed with hits “Lady Marmalade,” “It’s Raining Men,” “Man I Feel Like A Woman,” “I Will Survive” and more.

The Erotics, Empire Underground, Albany, 7pm

The Birthday Massacre, Empire Live, Albany, 7:30pm

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

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

Happy Hour at The Eleven with Monkey and The Crowbar Duo, Lark Hall, Albany, 6-8pm

Join us on 2/21/26 at The Eleven at Lark Hall with Monkey & the Crowbar Duo 6pm//FREE

Monkey and the Crowbar have been playing for years in the Mohawk Valley and Capital Region. Their acoustic vibe of originals and Grateful Dead adjacent tunes makes for a hoot of a time. Fronted by Todd Herringshaw(guitar, vocals), band members Tree Casullo(percussion, vocals), Joe Sinchak(fiddle, mandolin, vocals) and Sharon Charles(bass) give an old-timey spin to tunes we all know and love. For a special show, Todd and Tree will perform as acoustic Monkey-duo.

Haggis X-1 (ft: Members of Enter the Haggis), Putnam Place, Saratoga, 8pm

After 30 years of touring with acclaimed Celtic Rock band Enter the Haggis, Craig Downie knows how to entertain. Enter the Haggis focused on the fan experience, creating music with a perfect balance between innovation and tradition, and making the band a staple at PACs and festivals.

Haggis X-1 features Craig’s piping, vocals, songwriting and loveable sense of humor, surrounded by top-notch musicians including Tom Barraco and Trevor Lewington (Enter the Haggis) on drums and guitar/vocals, and Emily Yarascovitch (Tartan Terrors, Step Crew) on fiddle and step-dancing. Fans of Celtic Rock and longtime supporters of Enter the Haggis won’t want to miss this opportunity to experience Haggis X-1.

 

Mardi Gras Party with Nolanauts, Brass Machine & Glen David Andrews, Lost and Found, Albany, 2pm

Horse Grave / Vethaken / My So-Called Summer / We Used To Cut Grass, No Fun, Troy, 7pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/21 10:00 AM Grateful Fred Scheier & Phil Shaver- Saratoga Farmers Market at Wilton Mall

2/21 10:00 AM Jeff Brisbin- Satatoga Senior Center- YMCA

2/21 3:00 PM Ron Comstock- Helderberg Mountain Brewing

2/21 5:00 PM Juniper- Artisanal Brew Works

2/21 5:00 PM Will Pedicone- Frog Alley Brewing

2/21 6:00 PM Ain’t No Strangers- Galley Bar

2/21 6:00 PM Chris Carey- The Scarlet Knife

2/21 6:00 PM Christine Spero- The Wishing Well

2/21 6:00 PM Dan Sherwin- Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino

2/21 6:00 PM Franklin Micare- 677 Prime

2/21 6:00 PM Jeff Walton … Candlelight Concert Series- The Hidaway

2/21 6:00 PM Jeffrey Halstead- Panza’s

2/21 6:00 PM Kilashandra- Rail To River Brewing

2/21 6:00 PM Marcus Ruggiero- Inn at Saratoga

2/21 6:00 PM Monkey & The Crowbar- Lark Hall

2/21 6:00 PM Pat Decker- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/21 6:00 PM Rafa- Powers Pub

2/21 6:00 PM The Wasbes- S&S farm Brewery

2/21 6:00 PM Wide Awake Duo- Spa City Tap & Barrel

2/21 6:30 PM Jeff Brisbin- Diamond Club at Embassy Suites

2/21 6:30pm North Allen Duo- Peddlers Bar & Bistro

2/21 7:00 PM Coconut Telegraph- Parting Glass

2/21 7:00 PM Erin Powers- Forty One Sports Bar

2/21 7:00 PM Harmonic Duo- Rustic Barn Pub

2/21 7:00 PM Late Night Philosophers & DJ Biz- The Night Owl

2/21 7:00 PM On Tap Duo- Kraverie

2/21 7:00 PM Shannon Roy- Ameican Legion Wynanyskill

2/21 7:00 PM TBD- Bunker Saratoga

2/21 8:00 PM DJ Dillion Robert- Misfit

2/21 8:00 PM Haggis X-1- Putnam Place

2/21 8:00 PM In The Dust- Van Slycks at Rivers Casino

2/21 8:00 PM Mary Fahl- Caffe Lena

2/21 9:00 A MRob Forman- Troy Farmers Market

2/21 9:00 PM Terry Gordon Quartet- Nine Maple

2/21 9:30 PM The Schmooze- Spa City Tap & Barrel

Sunday, February 22^nd

The 2026 Listen Up Awards , Cohoes Music Hall, Cohoes, 3pm

The Listen Up Awards is a people’s choice music award ceremony celebrating local talent in the Capital Region created by Mirth Films and Radio Radio X. Your Vote, Your Choice.

To go along with the awards, each year features multiple live performances. Even with this being a people’s choice style award show, we have gone even farther to keep things fair. Winners of a Listen Up award can not be nominated the next year (in the same category) and the live performers are always winners from the previous year.

The goal of the Listen Up awards is to bring people together and celebrate all the local talent we have throughout the region in a fun manner.

2026 marks the 5 year anniversary of The Listen Up Awards which is why we are celebrating with a two day event. Saturday Feb 21st will be dedicated to honoring the scene’s heroes and Sunday Feb 22nd will be the 2026 award show!

DIDO, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, 3pm

Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra presents Judy Collins: Wildflowers in Concert, Proctors Theatre, Schenectady.

In her 6th decade as an artist—and as prolific as ever, having released her 55th album earlier this year—Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Judy Collins is taking a rare moment to look back on her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers.” The cultural icon will perform an exclusive series of shows, bringing to full bloom her chamber-folk masterwork supported by an orchestra.

The show will also feature Judy’s most beloved songs from her decades-spanning oeuvre. This program will also run nationwide on PBS as a pledge drive starting in June 2024 and will run through 2025.

Say She She Cut & Rewind Tour with Katzù Oso, Lark Hall, Albany, 8pm-11:30pm

Say She She are back and heading to Lark Hall on Sunday, February 22nd for their Cut & Rewind Tour. Doors 7pm//Show 8pm.

There’s nothing more resonant than the human voice. It contains timbres and textures no other instrument can replicate, but most importantly, it’s immensely powerful: One voice can spark an uprising, but many voices in unison create a movement. Nya Gazelle Brown, Sabrina Cunningham, and Piya Malik, the three women who front NYC punk-chic, discodelic band Say She She, understand how to wield such power. They soar above irresistible grooves, locking together in gorgeous three-part harmonies that cleverly disguise the feeling of righteous rebellion permeating their music. Theirs is a multi-pronged call to action: Move your body, expand your mind, and recognize your strength..

Balor / Tentacles / Verevaen / Morticide – 22 years of TENTACLES, No Fun, Troy, 5pm-11pm

From “Bar People.”

2/22 1:00 PM Jeff Grippin- Other One Brewery

2/22 3:30 PM Roseanna Grimaldi- Hank Hudson Brewing

2/22 5:00 PM Bobbie Van Detta- Charlton Tavern

2/22 5:00 PM Kidd Kyle & The Big Deal- Cock & Bull

2/22 6:00 PM Art n Shawna n Chris- Carsons Woodside Tavern

2/22 6:00 PM Sinatra And Friends- Panza’s

2/22 7:00 PM Sober Salon- Caffe Lena

2/22 8:00 PM Say She She Cut & Rewind Tour- Lark Hall