Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight was born on June 5, 1969, in Buffalo, New York, into a family where music was inescapable. His grandfather’s church choir provided his first vocal training, and by his teenage years McKnight had taught himself to play multiple instruments, compose arrangements, and lead a band through local performances. By 18, he had secured […]
Rick James
Rick James invented punk funk in Buffalo, New York, and the sound he created there still reverberates through every beat that borrows from his catalog. Born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. on February 1, 1948, in Buffalo, he was the third of eight children. His mother was a former dancer, his father an autoworker, and his […]
Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr. is the musician most responsible for the sound we now call smooth jazz, and his foundation was built in Buffalo, New York. Born on December 12, 1943, in Buffalo, Washington grew up in a household where jazz was a daily presence. His father, Grover Washington Sr., played tenor saxophone and introduced his […]
Corinne Bailey Rae at Universal Preservation Hall | June 5, 2026
Corinne Bailey Rae plays Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on June 5 — a 20th anniversary show for one of the most warmly original debut albums of the 2000s. Intimate room, tickets on sale now.
Lee Fields at Westcott Theater | May 8, 2026
Lee Fields brings over 50 years of soul to Westcott Theater in Syracuse on May 8. The Faithful is still the real thing — raw, powerful, and unforgettable.
The Music of Sam Cooke at Universal Preservation Hall | April 25, 2026
Bradd Marquis brings The Music of Sam Cooke to Universal Preservation Hall on April 25. A night of timeless soul in one of Saratoga’s most beautiful rooms.
North to Shore Festival
North to Shore Festival spans Newark, Asbury Park, and Freehold across 16 days of music, comedy, and culture — New Jersey’s most ambitious multi-city arts event.
Global Citizen Festival
Global Citizen Festival returns to Central Park’s Great Lawn in fall 2026. Free tickets earned through advocacy actions — 60,000 attend the world’s biggest activism-powered concert.
Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival
The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival has celebrated hip-hop culture at Brooklyn Bridge Park since 2005, drawing 30,000+ to what became one of NYC’s signature summer events.
Alive at Five
Alive at Five returns to downtown Albany June 4 through July 16, 2026. Six free Thursday evening concerts on Broadway — the Capital Region’s signature summer series since 1990.