All Over Albany

Music Haven 2018 lineup

Nigerien singer/songwriter/guitarist Bombino opens the series in July.

The lineup for this summer's Music Haven series in Schenectady's Central Park is out.

One of the things that distinguishes Music Haven among the free summer concert series is its focus on world, jazz, and roots music. And a bunch of upgrades to the venue itself are set to debut this season.

This venue's schedule also includes a handful of concerts beyond the typical Sunday evening Music Haven concerts.

The series starts July 8. Here's the lineup...

Shows start at 7 pm. Rain site is Proctors unless otherwise noted. Blurbage via Music Haven.

July 8: Bombino
"Dubbed 'the world's best guitarist' by Noisey, Bombino brings the fierce grace of the Tuareg tradition to his instrument, drawing comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Neil Young and Jerry Garcia" With: Innov Gnawa

July 10: Empire Jazz Orchestra
"'Encore' will mark retiring SUNY Schenectady County Community College Dean of Music and EJO founder Dr. William Meckley's final performance at the helm of his beloved big band." (Rain site Carl B. Taylor Auditorium at SCCC.)

July 15: Gabacho Maroc
"Gabacho Maroc freely crosses cultural and musical boundaries to create an open-minded, open-hearted conception of jazz with African, Moroccan, Arabic and Gnawan influences." With: Heard.

July 19: Mile Twelve
"Acoustic icon Tim O'Brien, knocked out by the young band's effortless blend of traditional and modern bluegrass, says, 'Mile Twelve is a group to watch in the coming decade.'" With: Honeysuckle

July 22: Pascuala Ilabaca Y Fauna
"Pascuala Ilabaca is rooted in Chilean tradition, but unafraid to incorporate influences from her life abroad, in lands like India and Mexico, or from her far-flung listening in jazz, pop and rock." With: Taina Asili y la Banda Rebelde

July 24: Iberi Choir
"From the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the haunting a cappella polyphony from the all male Iberi choir made the ensemble one the true hits of GlobalFEST 2018."

July 29: Lakou Mizik
"Lakou Mizik, formed in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, is a Haitian collective of elder legends and rising young talents, using the healing spirit of Rara and Vodou to inspire pride, strength and hope." With: Bonga & The Vodou Drums of Haiti

August 5: Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
"Scion of Zydeco pioneer Rockin' Dopsie, Grammy Award-nominated accordionist Dwayne Dopsie takes the form to an even higher level--'This is my calling,' he says, 'my heart and soul.'" With: New Breed Brass Band (Rain site: Niskayuna High School Auditorium.)

August 8: CHIME
"ESYO CHIME helps students from economically disadvantaged communities shine through music, building skills to succeed in all areas of their lives"

August 11: The Schenectady Symphony Orchestra
"The almost 60-strong SSO performs a starlit 'Evening of Pops' under the baton of music director Charles Schneider."

August 12: Skerryvore
"From the tiny Scottish isle of Tiree, Skerryvore has exploded across the world, bringing a distinctively rocking Celtic sound from New York's Central Park to the Shanghai Expo." With: The Schenectady Pipe Band

August 19: Blues BBQ featuring Toronzo Cannon
"When Chicago Transit Authority bus driver Toronzo Cannon puts down his keys and grabs his guitar pick, watch out--he's the real thing, playing his music, as his album states, The Chicago Way." With: The Matt Mirabile Band