Albany & Capital Region Concerts
From SPAC’s summer lawn to Albany’s historic theaters — your guide to live music in the Capital Region
The Capital Region Music Scene
The Capital Region isn’t one music scene — it’s four cities, one corridor. Albany, Saratoga Springs, Troy, and Schenectady each bring their own energy to a region that consistently punches well above its size when it comes to live music.
Every summer, SPAC draws headliners from across the globe to its legendary outdoor concert amphitheater nestled in Saratoga Spa State Park — one of the most atmospheric venues in the Northeast for summer concerts under the stars. Downtown Albany’s MVP Arena handles arena-scale touring acts, while The Egg’s modernist dome hosts jazz, folk, and chamber performances. Cross the river to Troy and you’ll find the acoustically perfect Savings Bank Music Hall — a hidden gem that touring artists consistently rave about. In Schenectady, Proctors Theatre brings Broadway productions, major concerts, and a packed calendar to a beautifully restored 1926 showplace.
Whether you’re planning outdoor concerts at SPAC, catching a show at Empire Live, or a headline performance at Proctors, the Capital Region delivers a live music experience that rivals any market on the East Coast — four cities deep.
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Summer nights at SPAC. Electric crowds at MVP Arena. Jazz at The Egg.
Upcoming Capital Region Shows
- Tue, Oct 27, 2026 Holywatr at Empire Underground
- Thu, Oct 29, 2026 Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
- Fri, Oct 30, 2026 Shining Star at Rivers Casino
- Fri, Oct 30, 2026 Judah & the Lion at Empire Live
- Fri, Oct 30, 2026 Night Zero at Lark Hall
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026 It’s A 2000’s Party at Empire Live
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Deadgrass at Caffe Lena
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Halloween with Cryin’ Out Loud! at Frog Alley Brewing
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026 La Pena Máxima 2 at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Sat, Oct 31, 2026 Ally Venable at Empire Underground
- Sun, Nov 1, 2026 In Her Own Words at Empire Underground
- Sun, Nov 1, 2026 Melissa Ferrick at Caffe Lena
- Wed, Nov 4, 2026 Carsie Blanton at Lark Hall
- Wed, Nov 4, 2026 Jeff Dunham at The Palace Theatre Albany
- Wed, Nov 4, 2026 Galactic Empire at Empire Underground
- Thu, Nov 5, 2026 Passport: Naghash Ensemble at Universal Preservation Hall
- Fri, Nov 6, 2026 Back to the Garden 1969 at Cohoes Music Hall
- Fri, Nov 6, 2026 Dweezil Zappa at Palace Theatre
- Fri, Nov 6, 2026 Midwinter at Empire Underground
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 Beyond Purple at The Stationery Factory
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 Forbidden at Empire Underground
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 Saving Abel at Putnam Place
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 Dan Bern at Caffe Lena
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 Little Folks Series with Dan Bern at Caffe Lena
- Sat, Nov 7, 2026 HEX: 5 Years B**ches at Lark Hall
- Sun, Nov 8, 2026 Secondhand Serenade at Empire Underground
- Mon, Nov 9, 2026 Jack Waldheim & the Criminal Hearts at The Stationery Factory
- Tue, Nov 10, 2026 Chuck Lamb & Diego Figueiredo at Caffe Lena
- Wed, Nov 11, 2026 Andy Grammer at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
- Wed, Nov 11, 2026 Garrett Boys at The Hangar on the Hudson
- Thu, Nov 12, 2026 The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight at MVP Arena
- Thu, Nov 12, 2026 Upstate at Lark Hall
- Thu, Nov 12, 2026 Trey Anastasio at Palace Theatre
- Thu, Nov 12, 2026 INTERFACE: Cognitive Science at EMPAC
- Thu, Nov 12, 2026 Robbie Fulks with opener Henry Ferland at Caffe Lena
- Fri, Nov 13, 2026 Maria Bamford at The Egg
- Fri, Nov 13, 2026 Wyatt Flores at Empire Live
- Fri, Nov 13, 2026 Dark Star Orchestra at Palace Theatre Albany
- Fri, Nov 13, 2026 Carnivore A.D. at Empire Underground
- Fri, Nov 13, 2026 Ani DiFranco at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Back In Black at Cohoes Music Hall
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Don McLean at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Leylines at Empire Underground
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Annie in the Water at Lark Hall
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Endea Owens & The Cookout at MASS MoCA
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 2000s Rave at Empire Live
- Sat, Nov 14, 2026 Tommy V LIVE with Chuck Ayers at Frog Alley Brewing
- Sun, Nov 15, 2026 Motionless In White at MVP Arena
- Sun, Nov 15, 2026 Pouya at Empire Live
- Tue, Nov 17, 2026 Glenn Miller Orchestra at Cohoes Music Hall
- Wed, Nov 18, 2026 Jim Messina & The Road Runners at Cohoes Music Hall
- Thu, Nov 19, 2026 AngelMaker at Empire Underground
- Thu, Nov 19, 2026 Willie Nile at Lark Hall
- Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Zach Williams at Palace Theatre
- Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Wrathchild – Iron Maiden Tribute at The Stationery Factory
- Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Bass Invasion – Emergence at Empire Underground
- Fri, Nov 20, 2026 Emo Night Tour at Empire Live
- Sat, Nov 21, 2026 The Lox at Palace Theatre Albany
- Sat, Nov 21, 2026 Moon Tooth at Empire Underground
- Sat, Nov 21, 2026 A Grateful Thanksgiving with The Deadbeats at Lark Hall
- Sat, Nov 21, 2026 Bingo Loco at Empire Live
- Sun, Nov 22, 2026 Jo Koy at Palace Theatre Albany
- Sun, Nov 22, 2026 Ventana at Empire Underground
- Wed, Nov 25, 2026 Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening at Proctors
- Fri, Nov 27, 2026 Kingdom of Giants at Empire Underground
- Sat, Nov 28, 2026 Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday Show at The Hangar on the Hudson
- Sun, Nov 29, 2026 Pentatonix at MVP Arena
- Mon, Nov 30, 2026 Pulsifier at Empire Underground
- Mon, Nov 30, 2026 Jack Waldheim & the Criminal Hearts at The Stationery Factory
- Fri, Dec 4, 2026 Richard Marx at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Fri, Dec 4, 2026 Michael Wilbur (Moon Hooch) at Lark Hall
- Sat, Dec 5, 2026 Dar Williams at Cohoes Music Hall
- Sat, Dec 5, 2026 Malignancy at Empire Underground
- Wed, Dec 9, 2026 Darkest Hour at Empire Underground
- Fri, Dec 11, 2026 Millington at Empire Underground
- Fri, Dec 11, 2026 Ana Gasteyer at Universal Preservation Hall
- Fri, Dec 11, 2026 Lord Huron at Palace Theatre
- Fri, Dec 11, 2026 Crazy Train at The Stationery Factory
- Sat, Dec 12, 2026 Fireside Collective at Lark Hall
- Sat, Dec 12, 2026 Home Free at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Dec 12, 2026 WonkyWilla at Empire Underground
- Sun, Dec 13, 2026 Tab Benoit with Bonerama at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sun, Dec 13, 2026 Close Encounters With Music: Come to the Cabaret! Paris and Weimar Berlin at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Mon, Dec 14, 2026 Winter Enchanted — A Magical West End Christmas Story at Palace Theatre Albany
- Thu, Dec 17, 2026 Trans-Siberian Orchestra at MVP Arena
- Fri, Dec 18, 2026 It’s A Jazzy Christmas at Universal Preservation Hall
- Fri, Dec 18, 2026 Kung Fu w/ Sophistafunk at Putnam Place
- Sat, Dec 19, 2026 John Pizzarelli Trio with Jessica Molaskey at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Sat, Dec 19, 2026 It’s a Jazzy Christmas at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Dec 19, 2026 Machine Dazzle: Changes The Costume Design for Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music at MASS MoCA
- Mon, Dec 21, 2026 Jack Waldheim & the Criminal Hearts at The Stationery Factory
- Wed, Dec 30, 2026 Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute at Putnam Place
- Thu, Dec 31, 2026 First Night of Funny at Cohoes Music Hall
- Sat, Jan 9, 2027 Annie-B Parson and Alla Kovgan/Big Dance Theater The Oath at MASS MoCA
- Mon, Jan 11, 2027 Annie-B Parson and Alla Kovgan / Big Dance Theater: The Oath at MASS MoCA
- Thu, Jan 14, 2027 INTERFACE: Robotics at EMPAC
- Fri, Jan 15, 2027 Great American Ghost at Empire Underground
- Sat, Jan 16, 2027 Extreme Music Awards at Empire Live
- Thu, Jan 21, 2027 Thursday at Empire Live
- Wed, Jan 27, 2027 Boys Go To Jupiter at Lark Hall
- Fri, Jan 29, 2027 Jerry Seinfeld at Palace Theatre Albany
- Sat, Jan 30, 2027 DakhaBrakha at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Thu, Feb 4, 2027 The Righteous Brothers at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Feb 6, 2027 Perfume Genius & Kate Wallich: The Lesson at MASS MoCA
- Thu, Feb 11, 2027 INTERFACE: Mixed Reality at EMPAC
- Wed, Feb 17, 2027 Adelitas Way at Empire Underground
- Tue, Feb 23, 2027 Babyfxce E at Empire Live
- Sat, Feb 27, 2027 Joe Bonamassa at Palace Theatre Albany
- Thu, Mar 4, 2027 Artimus Pyle Band at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Mar 6, 2027 Passport: La Banda Morisca at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sat, Mar 6, 2027 Greta Van Fleet at MVP Arena
- Sun, Mar 7, 2027 Brit Floyd at Proctors
- Thu, Mar 11, 2027 Spyro Gyra at Universal Preservation Hall
- Wed, Mar 31, 2027 The Princess Proms Concert at Palace Theatre Albany
- Fri, Apr 2, 2027 The Players at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sun, Apr 4, 2027 UNDERTALE Symphony at Palace Theatre
- Thu, Apr 8, 2027 Matt Mathews at Palace Theatre Albany
- Sat, Apr 10, 2027 Thrown at Empire Live
- Wed, Apr 14, 2027 Roger Waters Presents LEGACY – A Pink Floyd Show at Palace Theatre
- Sat, Apr 17, 2027 Jazz at Lincoln Center: World on a String at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sun, Apr 18, 2027 Close Encounters With Music: Dvořák – In the New World and Old World at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Thu, Apr 29, 2027 Four Year Strong at Empire Live
- Fri, May 7, 2027 The Bronx Wanderers at Universal Preservation Hall
- Fri, May 14, 2027 Passport: Kiran Ahluwalia at Universal Preservation Hall
- Sun, May 16, 2027 Close Encounters With Music: Vivace Orchestra – The Golden Chain of Classical Music at Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
- Tue, Jul 20, 2027 Matchbox Twenty at SPAC
- Fri, Sep 24, 2027 FreshGrass Festival 2027 at MASS MoCA
Exploring the Capital Region
Before & After the Show
Downtown Albany’s Lark Street offers craft cocktail bars and farm-to-table restaurants within walking distance of the Palace Theatre and The Egg. In Saratoga Springs, Broadway bustles with dining options steps from SPAC — from Hattie’s fried chicken to upscale spots along Caroline Street. Troy’s vibrant restaurant row on River Street is a perfect pre-show destination before the Savings Bank Music Hall.
Getting Around
The Capital Region’s venues span a tight corridor along the I-87/I-90 interchange. Albany to Saratoga Springs is a quick 35-minute drive up the Northway. CDTA buses connect downtown Albany venues, and rideshare is readily available for SPAC shows. Most venues offer paid parking nearby, with free street parking available in Troy and parts of downtown Albany on evenings and weekends.
Best Time to Visit
Summer is peak season — SPAC’s lawn season runs June through September, with the biggest tours in July and August. But the Capital Region’s indoor venues keep the music flowing year-round. Fall brings crisp nights perfect for downtown shows at MVP Arena and the Palace. Winter and spring see an eclectic mix of jazz, folk, comedy, and touring acts at The Egg, Troy Music Hall, and Empire Live.
Plan Your Visit
Getting Here
By car: I-87 (Northway) and I-90 (Thruway) converge in Albany. Most venues are within 5 minutes of an interstate exit.
By train: Amtrak’s Albany-Rennselaer station connects to NYC (2.5 hrs), Montreal, and Boston.
Parking: Paid garages near MVP Arena & Palace Theatre. Free street parking evenings/weekends in Troy and parts of downtown Albany.
Insider Tips
- SPAC lawn: Bring a blanket and arrive early for the best spots
- Palace Theatre: Grab dinner on N. Pearl St before the show
- Troy Music Hall: Balcony seats have the best acoustics
- MVP Arena: Clear bag policy — check venue rules before you go
- Empire Live: GA floor means first come, first served
Dining & Nightlife
Albany — Lark Street: Craft cocktails, farm-to-table dining, and late-night eats walking distance from The Egg and Palace Theatre.
Saratoga Springs — Broadway: Upscale restaurants, wine bars, and Hattie’s legendary fried chicken, all steps from SPAC shuttles.
Troy — River Street: Breweries, global cuisine, and a growing food scene perfect for pre-show dining near the Music Hall.
Explore Other Regions
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