Upstate New York runs on rock and roll. In any given week the region’s stages light up with arena headliners, reunited legends, rising indie acts, and the bar bands that turn a Tuesday into a night worth leaving the house for. The lawn at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the amphitheaters at Darien Lake, CMAC, and Bethel Woods, the riverfront at Artpark, and club rooms like Empire Live in Albany give touring rock a home in every corner of the state.
This page is your live, always-current guide to every rock concert on our radar across Upstate NY — classic rock and arena anthems, hard rock and metal-leaning bills, alt and indie, jam, and everything in between. Shows are listed with the soonest dates first, so the next night out is always at the top.
We cover the whole region: the Capital Region and Saratoga, Western NY and Buffalo, the Hudson Valley, Central NY and Syracuse, the Finger Lakes, the Southern Tier, and the North Country. New tours, festival lineups, and on-sale dates land here as soon as they’re announced, and we flag presales and ticket links so you can lock in seats before they’re gone.
More guides: Country Concerts in Upstate New York · Comedy Shows in Upstate New York · Hip-Hop Concerts in Upstate New York
By region: Rock Concerts in Albany & the Capital Region · Rock Concerts in Buffalo & Western NY · Rock Concerts in the Hudson Valley · Rock Concerts in Syracuse & Central NY · Rock Concerts in the Finger Lakes
Van Halen / Journey at Palace Theatre — March 22, 1978
On this day in 1978, Van Halen opened for Journey at the Palace Theatre in Albany. Eddie Van Halen’s debut album had just dropped, and he was about to change…
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Bogie’s — March 22, 1992
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Bogie’s — before “The Impression That I Get” made them famous, the Bosstones were a ska-punk force playing clubs.
Grateful Dead at Knickerbocker Arena — March 23, 1991
The Grateful Dead’s Spring Tour 1991 stop at the Knickerbocker Arena — one of many legendary Dead shows in Albany.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at Palace Theatre — March 24, 1987
On this day in 1987, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts tore through the Palace Theatre in Albany on the Good Music tour. “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation,” “Crimson…
Grateful Dead at Knickerbocker Arena — March 24, 1990
Another Grateful Dead show at the Knickerbocker Arena — Spring Tour 1990. One of multiple consecutive nights.
The J. Geils Band at Palace Theatre — March 19, 1972
The J. Geils Band on The Morning After tour at the Palace Theatre. Before “Centerfold” made them a pop phenomenon, the J. Geils Band was a ferocious live act.
David Bowie at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium — March 19, 1976
David Bowie as the Thin White Duke at Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium on March 19, 1976 — the Isolar tour in support of “Station to Station.” Bowie drew 12,000 fans and…
Blind Melon at Saratoga Winners — March 19, 1993
Blind Melon at Saratoga Winners — Shannon Hoon’s band was about to blow up with “No Rain” and the Bee Girl video. Seeing them in a Cohoes club before the…
David Bowie at Rochester Community War Memorial — March 20, 1976
David Bowie as the Thin White Duke at Rochester’s Community War Memorial on March 20, 1976. Bowie drew 8,358 fans ($58,720 gross). After the show, Bowie and Iggy Pop were…
Fleetwood Mac at Times Union Center — March 20, 2019
On this day in 2019, Fleetwood Mac played the Times Union Center in Albany. The post-Lindsey Buckingham lineup — Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, with Mike Campbell…