This week's events roundup is brought to you by Harbinger Theatre, presenting The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer, starting Sept. 17.
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TOP 5 PICKS
⭐️ 🍺 Opalka Popup Beer Garden | The headlining event for this month’s First Friday Albany, Opalka’s art-and-music lawn party generates the kind of energy that reminds us why Albany is actually a pretty cool place to live. Expect a big crowd for Super 400, Melora Creager, and special guest Ryder Cooley—who performs with a stuffed ram! Don’t miss the new exhibition, Light and Transient Causes, smartly curated by our friend Marisa Espe. Fri, 6–9p, free.
⭐️ 🖼️ Powers House Revel | Get to this historic riverside estate in Troy’s Lansingburgh neighborhood for a sprawling end-of-summer art party featuring screenings, performances, site-specific installations, workshops, participatory experiences, sound art, and live music. The dance party gets going on Saturday night, while Sunday afternoon offers a more relaxed experience with a potluck lunch. Sat, 1-10p; Sunday 11a-3p, free.
⭐️ 🔦 This looks pretty darn cool! Night Lights in New Lebanon invites visitors to follow a quarter-mile path through fields and wooded areas, discovering original illuminated installations created by lighting designers and volunteers. And it’s free! Sat, 8-11p.
⭐️ 🎷 Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival | Albany’s annual jazz fest returns to Jennings Landing on Saturday with a full day of live music, food, and vendors along the Hudson River. This year’s lineup includes Ghost-Note, New Breed Brass Band, Glen David Andrews Band, The Harlem Gospel Travelers and Shiri Zorn Trio, with fireworks closing out the free, all-ages show as usual. Sat, 12:30-9p, free.
⭐️ 🏴 Capital District Scottish Games | This annual celebration of Scottish culture takes over the Altamont Fairgrounds on Saturday with pipe bands, Highland dancing, traditional athletic competitions, food, vendors and free pint-size games for the wee lads and lassies. This year’s live music lineup includes Scottish folk-rock favorites Skerryvore, along with Cécilia, Hadrian’s Wall and Friends Union. Sat, 8a-6:30p. Tix: $25 at the gate; free for kids 12 and under.
Honorable mentions…
⭐️ 👗 The Vintage Roundup | Arguably the best vintage market in the Capital Region returns to Albany’s Warehouse District on Saturday with 60+ vendors offering cool threads, home decor, jewelry, and collectibles. While you’re there: Head to Nine Pin across the street and get 10% off all cider pours by mentioning “The 518 Crew.” Sat, 11a-5p, free.
⭐️ 🔈️ TOPOS Festival | Over four days, EMPAC explores the many ways music can shape how we understand ourselves and each other, with performances, screenings, talks and experimental collaborations from artists including Vijay Iyer, Wadada Leo Smith, Miho Hatori and Fred Moten. The festival finishes Saturday with a free community BBQ (from Brooks House of BBQ), followed by an afternoon and evening of experimental music, drumming, and a live-scored screening of the Japanese silent film, A Page of Madness. Wed-Sat, various times. Tix: $50 all-festival pass; $20 single tickets.
🎭️ AT THE THEATER
- Jekyll & Hyde opens Sept. 11 at SLOC Musical Theater and runs through Sept. 20. The Frank Wildhorn musical kicks off SLOC's 100th season.
- Get tix to Harbinger Theatre’s The Counter, about a lonely waitress who befriends a regular customer. Starting Sept. 17.
- Parallel Lives begins with a pay-what-you-will preview Sept. 17 at Albany Civic Theater and officially opens Sept. 18.
- Capital Repertory Theatre launches its season Sept. 25 with The Last American Newspaper, running through Oct. 18.
SUMMER FUN
🎡 The summer fair season is reaching its peak with The Great Schaghticoke Fair, The Fonda Fair and the Columbia County Fair all happening this week through Labor Day.
THURSDAY
✏️ Fur Trade invites you to draw a live nude bear (not the animal kind, y’all) at Troy’s Context Collective.
FRIDAY
🖼️ First Friday Albany is back! Besides Opalka’s Pop-Up Beer Garden, highlights include: Free admission and a performance by HV music collective Pulso de Barro at the Albany Institute of History & Art; Caity Gallagher at The Eleven; swing dancing with Eight to the Bar at the Elks Lodge; and the 47th Annual Photography Regional Show at Albany Center Gallery.
🎹 Troy-based pianist and composer Sophia Vastek (who runs the Troy Listening Room with her partner) celebrates her first album under her new moniker, at the Sova: Alight! album release party.
👻 Is it already spooky season? Haunted Upstate launches its Ghosts of the Gilded Age tours this week. (Pro tip: Use code SUMMERWEEN for $5 off your ticket).
SATURDAY
🌮 Carne asada tacos and cumbia? Yes please! Los Hermosos is popping up at Yesfolk for an evening of delish eats, kombucha and the beats of DJ Lovely Candela.
🧘♂️ It’s the last Saturday to get your Rise & Flow on at Peebles Island for free.
🎷 Byrdhouse Records presents An Evening of Anime Jazz with Catbus Collective at Troy’s No Fun.
SUNDAY
⛴️ Join a dressed-to-impress, 420-friendly crowd aboard the 3rd Annual Capital District Cannabis & Wellness Boat Party.
🎭️ Improv Spaces Music Festival showcases the work of more than 20 musicians and artists working in improvisation at Saratoga Arts.
MONDAY
🍔 It’s Labor Day, America! Rest up, pop a cold one, and make the best backyard burger with these Reddit tips.
Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.
