All Over Albany

Upbeat on the Roof 2017

Allyson and Whitney Smith from Cannon the Brave. They're on the schedule in August.

Free summer concert season approaches...

The Upbeat on the Roof series is returning to The Tang Museum at Skidmore later this summer -- and on a new day of the week. The roof-top concerts are moving from Fridays to Thursdays.

Museum explanation blurbage: "The move to Thursday nights coincides with the Museum's new year-round hours. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursday. This move will give visitors a chance to visit the galleries before and after UpBeat concerts."

This year's lineup is below. As usual, it includes local acts across a range of genres.

Concerts start at 7 pm. "Due to the popularity of the concert series, visitors are advised to arrive early." Blurbage via The Tang.

July 13: Decoda: Skidmore Chamber Music Institute
Decoda is a New York City-based chamber ensemble comprised of virtuoso musicians, entrepreneurs, and passionate advocates of the arts. The ensemble's summer intensive at Skidmore College, now in its fourth year, offers young musicians multiple performance opportunities and occasions for meaningful community engagement.

July 20: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra
Alex Torres returns to the Tang with his 12-piece band to bring energizing beats and percussion-heavy music. The Orchestra showcases and teaches its own blend of Afro-Carribean music at local schools, as well as writing and performing for film and television.

July 27: Heard
Heard combines jazz, classical, and world instruments to form a unique arrangement of sound. The band blends global styles and influences in a way that takes listeners on unexpected journeys. The band last played UpBeat in 2014.

August 3: Great Mutations
Great Mutations, making its UpBeat debut, is a rock band featuring Mitchell Masterson, Ian White, and Matthew Thouin. The band's crisp sound generates from the blending of rhythmic guitar, drums, and winsome lyrics. The trio has arranged and recorded two albums and released their most recent, Many Battles, last summer.

August 10: Cannon the Brave
Albany-based Cannon the Brave's goal is to "connect listeners with the best versions of themselves" and do so through the positivity and self-exploration contained within their indie pop-rock. Led by identical twin sisters Allyson (vocals) and Whitney Smith (keyboard, vocals), the band includes Eric Margan (multi-instrumentalist), Mike Campana (guitar) and Brian Beverly (bass). The soft harmonies and strumming guitar of Cannon the Brave brings forth their message of acceptance and self-love. The band performs their own emotionally engaging compositions along with an occasional cover during live sets. They will be making their UpBeat debut.

August 17: Ramblin Jug Stompers
The Ramblin Jug Stompers originate from Albany and have performed their mix of old time, bluegrass and folk music across the Northeast. Their exuberant style combines the washboard, guitar, mandolin, and banjo in a spirited quartet. The band last played UpBeat in 2007.

August 24: Pony in the Pancake
Pony in the Pancake, making its UpBeat debut, plays low-fi rock filled with melodies and experimentation. The Albany-based group walks the line between surf rock, krautrock, and shoegaze.
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(And if now you're thinking about about all the free summer concert series, keep an eye out -- their lineups should start popping up in May.)

photo: Eamon McBride and Zack Wilmot