All Over Albany

Alive at Five lineup 2013

The lineup is out for this summer's Alive at Five, the annual free concert series in Albany's Riverfront Park amphitheater at the Corning Preserve. The concerts are Thursday evenings and start at (surprise) 5 pm. The first show is June 6.

And without further ado...

Compact schedule

June 6: The Fabulous Thunderbirds | With: Super 400
June 13: JT Taylor (formerly of Kool & The Gang) | With: The Ill Funk Ensemble
June 20: The Refrigerators | With: Molly Durnin
June 27: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic | With: Funk Evolution
July 11: Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute) | With: The Chris Dukes Band
July 18: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas | With: Wild Adriatic
July 25: Local Blues Night | The Tom Healey Band | Blues Sanctuary
August 1: The Original Wailers | With: Whiskey City

Expanded schedule

All descriptions from city of Albany press release.

June 6: The Fabulous Thunderbirds
For nearly 40 years, the Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band, incorporating Cajun, blues, rock and R&B sounds into barnstorming signature hits like "Tuff Enuff", "Wrap It Up", "How Do You Spell Love" and "Powerful Stuff". Formed in Austin, Texas in 1974, the Grammy-nominated band is fronted by founding member Kim Wilson, an astounding performer that blues legend Muddy Waters called his favorite harmonica player and vocalist. The Thunderbirds are currently flying high on the release of their new album, On The Verge, released in March on Severn Records.

With: Super 400
Capital Region favorites Super 400 have built up a loyal following worldwide with their classic power trio approach to original rock and roll, selling out shows across North America and Europe. Their hometown of Troy has designated February 25 as "Super 400 Day" in recognition of the band's accomplishments.

June 13: JT Taylor (formerly of Kool & The Gang)
As a member of the massively popular group Kool & The Gang, pop and R&B legend JT Taylor's vocals ignited classic hits like "Celebration," "Ladies' Night" and "Too Hot." His silky smooth voice and impeccable stage presence have earned him ten #1 singles, numerous platinum and gold records, Grammy nominations and worldwide record sales of over 50 million. Since leaving Kool & The Gang, JT has enjoyed success as a solo artist and actor. He recently released the singles "Joanna 2013" and "ShowDown", with a brand new album to follow.

With: The Ill Funk Ensemble
A slick mash-up of hip-hop, neo-soul, R&B and rock that's been compared to The Roots, Albany's own Ill Funk Ensemble has been making steady waves in the independent music scene for the last few years, culminating in a win for best R&B/soul artist at the Artists in Music Awards in Los Angeles this past February.

June 20: The Refrigerators
With an unprecedented 20 years of experience and over 1500 shows, The Refrigerators have consistently delivered high energy performances to ecstatic fans throughout the northeast. Recognized repeatedly by Metroland, Times Union and other publications as one of the Albany area's finest live bands, The Refrigerators infuse funk, rock, and R&B with a pumping rhythm section, powerhouse horns and kinetic stage presence. The result is something you need to hear and see for yourself!

With: Molly Durnin
Raised in the foothills of the Berkshires, singer-songwriter Molly Durnin has quickly become a sought-after performer in the 518 music scene. Since releasing her acclaimed debut album, Run, in June of 2012, she's been featured extensively on local radio and on stages at top venues like Caffe Lena, The Egg and the Linda Norris Auditorium.

June 27: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic revolutionized funk music while racking up three platinum albums and over 40 R&B hit singles, including the number one hits "Flashlight", "One Nation Under a Groove" and "Aqua Boogie". Beginning his career in doo-wop a half-century ago, Clinton and his Parliament Funkadelic machine developed into the foremost innovators in funk by the early '70s, melding psychedelic guitar, booming bass, danceable beats and outrageous stage shows into their own signature style. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with 15 other members of P-Funk in 1997, Clinton's music has influenced countless artists and helped usher in an entire generation of modern urban music.

With: Funk Evolution
One of the hottest groups to hit Capitaland's music scene in the last decade, Funk Evolution is a nine-piece funk, R&B and soul horn band featuring some of the area's most recognizable players. The band's repertoire ranges from classic soul to innovative takes on modern hits.

July 11: Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute)
Satisfaction is the international touring tribute show to the world's greatest rock and roll band. Bringing an astounding level of musical and visual authenticity to over 50 years of classic Stones hits, Satisfaction's acclaimed live show has delighted fans at over 1800 performances around the world. Rolling Stone magazine calls Satisfaction "one of the greatest tribute bands in the world."

With: The Chris Dukes Band
A high-energy, versatile rock ensemble led by multi-talented singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Chris Dukes, The Chris Dukes Band has become one of the Capital Region's most popular groups. Featuring catchy hooks, poignant lyrics and creative melodies, The Chris Dukes Band appeals to fans of all types of music.
[website] [press contact]

July 18: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas
Mickey Thomas is the owner of the soaring voice that propelled Starship through an astonishing string of hits, including "No Way Out", "We Built This City", "Sara" and the Oscar-nominated #1 smash "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now". After making his mark in 1976 as the voice of the mega-hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" with The Elvin Bishop Band, Mickey joined the legendary group Jefferson Starship as lead vocalist. The group quickly changed their name to Starship, and every album released since Mickey's induction into the band has been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum.

With: Wild Adriatic
Wild Adriatic is a band of four friends seeking to carry forth the torch of timeless, soul-infused rock 'n' roll with captivating guitar work and an impressive live show. USA Today calls the Saratoga Springs outfit "an act to get behind", while the Huffington Post exclaims that Wild Adriatic is "full of rocking blues, soul and depth".
[website] [press contact]

July 25: Local Blues Night
Featuring the winners of the Downtown Albany Blues Music Contest

The Tom Healey Band
An all-star lineup featuring some of the best and brightest local musicians, the Tom Healey Band is one of the Albany area's leading blues acts. Led by Healey's rough and tumble vocals and witty lyrics, the Tom Healey Band plays American music for the world.

Blues Sanctuary
Winners of the Northeast Blues Society 2008 Colossal Contenders performance competition and semifinalists in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN, Blues Sanctuary serves up a delectable menu of classic and modern blues. Thrilling crowds for over a decade, Blues Sanctuary is an exciting, dynamic, and remarkably talented blues band.

August 1: The Original Wailers
In 1974, reggae legend Bob Marley went solo. On the brink of international stardom, Al Anderson was selected as lead guitarist. Anderson's phenomenal lead work on such classics as "No Woman, No Cry", "Dem Belly Full" and "Curfew (Three O' Clock Road Block)" brought rock fans to the Wailers' music. Now leading the Original Wailers, Al's illustrious career includes collaborations with the legendary Peter Tosh, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Steel Pulse, Inner Circle, Traffic and Ben Harper. The Original Wailers continue to pay tribute to Marley's legacy, while their latest recording of original music, Miracle, was nominated for a 2013 Best Reggae Album Grammy award.

With: MIRK
Voted Metroland's best local hip hop act in 2012 and 2013, MIRK blurs the lines between pop, soul, hip-hop and R&B. This 6-piece party powerhouse has established their presence as one of the Capital Region's "must-see" original bands.

August 8: Skeeter Creek
Since starting off as a bluegrass combo in 2002, Skeeter Creek has built a reputation as the Capital Region's top modern country party band. One of the hardest working groups in the area, Skeeter Creek has been voted best local country band by Metroland readers for three years in a row and performed on bills with a cavalcade of country superstars ranging from George Jones to Rascal Flatts.

With: Whiskey City
Whiskey City is a high-energy, six-piece country rock band that guarantees a party at every show. They were recently voted Best Live Band in the Berkshires by The Berkshire Eagle. Whiskey City has toured nationally and shared the stage with legends like Willie Nelson, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Little Feat, Foghat & The Outlaws.

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Alive at Five ground rules

+ NO glass containers of any kind

+ NO alcoholic beverages

+ NO coolers, backpacks, bags, containers, packages, thermoses, cups, bottles, cans, flasks.

+ NO animals or pets (Excludes ADA-defined service animals)

+ Security personnel reserve the right to inspect any bag, container or package and confiscate any prohibited or illegal items.

+ Any type of recording of the performance or presentation is prohibited without prior written consent.

+ All attendees should be prepared to present age identification at any time if they intend to consume alcohol.

Ground rules are subject to change without notice.

Exceptions made for medical or child-care reasons may be addressed individually.