Items tagged with 'TU Center'

Ariana Grande at the TU Center

musician Ariana Grande

Update November 1: Tickets go on sale November 5 -- they're $34.95 and up.
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It's true: Ariana Grande is set play a show at the TU Center March 18. It's the first top on her upcoming Sweetener tour.

Word of the show popped up this week when her website posted tour dates. A little bit oddly, though, the typical venue and ticket sale info didn't immediately follow. (These announcements are usually coordinated.) But on Friday the Times Union Center confirmed the date and posted a note: "Ticket prices and onsale information coming soon."

This will be a popular show. Grande is a huge star whose fame transcends music. Keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale if you'd like to go.

More upcoming shows at the TU Center

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Weezer + Pixies at Times Union Center

Weezer

Weezer. / photo: Sean Murphy

Classic rock* acts Weezer and (the) Pixies are set play to the Times Union Center March 14. Tickets go on sale October 19 -- they're $25 and up.

Weezer's been riding the wave of renewed attention thanks to their popular cover of Toto's "Africa." (If you had that in the surprise hit cover pool, congrats.) They also have a new album coming out next year.

And, of course, Pixies are one of the most influential modern rock bands of all time.

The two bands toured together this past summer, including a stop Syracuse.

* We kid... sort of. It's been 22 years since Pinkerton was released and 30 years since Surfer Rosa.

By the way...
Because the 90s, because Pixies: A reminder that Kim Deal and The Breeders are playing Upstate Concert Hall October 28.

Mumford & Sons at the Times Union Center

the band Mumford and Sons

The band Mumford & Sons is set to play a show at the Times Union Center March 2. Tickets go on sale to the general public October 12 -- they're $40.50 and up. (There's a fan pre-sale starting October 8 -- see the band's website for details.)

The alt rock / folk rock act has a new album -- Delta -- coming out in November, and the tour has the same name. Also: It sounds like the show will involve some sort of theater-in-the-round type of stage.

It looks like Maggie Rogers will be the opener for the TU Center show.

Mumford & Sons played a show at SPAC in the summer of 2016 and it sold out well ahead of time. So if you'd like to catch this show, it's not a bad idea to get tickets earlier rather than later.

photo: James Minchin

Dave Matthews Band at TU Center

dave matthews band

The Dave Matthews Band is set to play a show at the Times Union Center December 5. Tickets go on sale to the general public October 5 -- they're $65 and up. (There's a pre-sale for the band's fan club September 25-29.)

DMB released a new studio album this past June, its first in six years. Come Tomorrow debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

And the band made its annual migration to SPAC this past summer. The TU Center show is part of 10-city fall tour along the East Coast.

Shows at the TU Center this fall and beyond

More concerts coming up at the TU Center:

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Ludacris at the TU Center

rapper actor Ludacris

Ludacris is set to play a show at the Times Union Center August 11. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 13 -- they're $50 and up.

Joining the rapper/actor as a headliner for the show: rapper/songwriter August Alsina.

And the lineup also includes DJ Nick Lake, DJ Ted Smooth, MC/Actor Lou Pizarro, MC/Actor Teddy G, MC/Actor Jeremy.

Justin Timberlake at TU Center

Justin Timberlake Man of the Woods

Justin Timberlake is set to play the Times Union Center October 20. Tickets go on sale April 9 -- they're $53.50 and up. (There are also various pre-sales starting this week.)

The TU Center show is part of Timberlake's tour for his Man of the Woods album.

By the way: While looking for info for this show, we checked in on the tickets for the Elton John show at TU Center next March. They went on sale in February and it looks like the only tickets now available are "verified resale tickets" starting at... $152.

photo via Justin Timberlake Facebook

The NCAA women's basketball regional is at the TU Center later this week

Times Union Center exterior 2018-03-01

Let's look ahead to the weekend: One of the NCAA women's basketball regionals will be at the TU Center this Saturday and the following Monday. The series of three games will decide one of the teams for the women's tournament final four.

The field of four teams for Albany regional isn't set just yet. Three games this evening (Monday) at other sites will narrow the field. But...

+ There's a very good chance that one of the teams will be undefeated, #1 ranked UConn -- women's college basketball's Death Star just has to find a way to somehow slip past the powerhouse that is Quinnipiac. The Huskies beat St. Francis (PA) in the first round 140-52. Yep, 140-52. Presuming they win Monday night, they'll bring a big crowd to Albany. UConn has won the title 11 times.

+ And the group of four already includes #2 seed South Carolina, which won the title last year.

All-session tickets for the games at the TU Center start at $40 for adults / $20 for kids and seniors. Single-session tickets start at $21 for adults / $12 for kids.

Future years: The TU Center is set to host the women's tournament again in 2019, and the men's tournament in 2020.

Metallica at Times Union Center

the band Metallica

Metallica is set to play the Times Union Center October 29. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 2 -- they're $65 and up.* (There are also various pre-sales this week.)

The concert will also include a "Light It Up pre-show party" with comedian Jim Breuer, "featuring great tunes, comedy, giveaways and much more."

Metallica first started in 1981. It released its 10th studio album -- Hardwired... to Self-Destruct -- in November 2016, and this show is part of the ongoing tour in support of that album.

* Tangental bit: That is just about the highest starting ticket price around here that we can remember. (The string of sold-out Garth Brooks shows last year also started at $65, and the Chainsmokers at the TU Center last year started at $60.50.) Metallica had the fifth-highest grossing tour of 2017 -- $152.8 million on almost 1.6 million tickets sold -- according to Pollstar.

photo via Metallica Facebook

Elton John at TU Center in 2019

Elton John 2018

Elton John is set for a show at the Times Union Center March 1, 2019. (Yep, 2019.) Tickets go on sale this February 2 -- they're 45.50 and up. (There are also various presales, some of which start this week.)

The stop at the TU Center is part of what's said to be Elton John's last ever tour:

Kicking off in the U.S. on September 8, 2018, the 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour will consist of more than 300 shows across five continents, hitting North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Australasia before reaching its conclusion in 2021. These dates mark the superstar's last-ever tour, the end of half a century on the road for one of pop culture's most enduring performers. Elton's new stage production will take his fans on a musical and highly visual journey spanning a 50-year career of hits like no one has ever seen before.

John is now 70 years old.

John Legend + James Taylor at TU Center

John Legend and James Taylor

The Times Union Center is holding a "grand re-opening celebration" January 26 and the event is headlined by John Legend and James Taylor. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, December 16 -- they're $62 and up.

The event will also include a performance by Moriah Formica. And it'll be hosted by Jim Belushi.

John Legend is, of course, very popular and has won a ton of Grammys. And James Taylor is an icon who sells out multiple shows at Tanglewood every summer. So, there's a good chance this event will also sell out.

Earlier: Gawking at the TU Center's new atrium

John Legend photo via John Legend website | James Tayor photo via James Taylor Facebook

Gawking at the TU Center's new atrium

Times_Union_Center_new_atrium_2.jpg

The makeover of the Times Union Center's Pearl Street exterior and atrium is finished.

The almost-$20 million project included a new facade with huge video boards on the outside the county-owned arena. On the inside, the atrium was enclosed to make it usable during all four seasons (the space hosted a county tree lighting on Wednesday). It also expanded the mezzanine space, and reconfigured the stairs and escalators. Plus: There's a large falling water feature.

The renovation is part of the overall larger plan to link the TU Center with the new Albany Capital Center and the Empire State Plaza into complex that can use be used to host large events such as the NCAA basketball tournaments. (Both the women's and men's tournaments will be making a stop at the arena in the next few years.)

So let's gawk at it, shall we...

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Cardi B at TU Center

rapper Cardi B

Rapper Cardi B is headlining a "Homecoming Concert 2017" show at the TU Center October 21. Tickets went on sale this past Friday -- they're $45 and up for the general public, $30 and up for students with valid college ID.

Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" is currently #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. She's first female hip hop artist to attain that spot as part of a solo act since Lauryn Hill did it in 1998. (And she did so despite the efforts of Team Taylor Swift.)

Her ascent up the mountain of fame has followed a very modern path: stripper, to Instagram star, to reality TV star, to major label rap star.

The lineup for the TU Center is co-headlined by reggae/dancehall singer Charly Black, and includes Famous Dex and Lil Pump.

photo via Cardi B Facebook

NCAA basketball tournaments returning to the TU Center

TU Center atrium renovation rendering exterior night cropped

A rendering of what the arena's exterior will look like after the current atrium renovation is finished.

The NCAA announced the sites for its 2019-2022 tournaments Tuesday and the Times Union Center was awarded two events:

+ The TU Center will host a women's basketball region March 29-April 1, 2019. (It's also hosting a regional in 2018.)

+ And the arena will be a site for the first and second round of the men's basketball tournament in March 19 and 21 in 2020.

Getting these sorts tournaments to return to Albany has been a longtime goal for the TU Center's management and local officials. Some of the aspects of the Albany Capital Center -- specifically the high-ceiling multi-purpose room, which can hold three full-size practice basketball courts -- were designed with this goal in mind. The hope has been that adding the Capital Center to the mix, along with the atrium upgrade project, would make Albany a more competitive site.

The last time the NCAA men's basketball tournament was in Albany was in 2003, when the then-Pepsi Arena hosted the east regional. (That was the same year Syracuse -- out of the east bracket -- won the national championship.)

The Chainsmokers at the TU Center

The Chainsmokers

The DJ/producer duo The Chainsmokers are set to play the TU Center April 21. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 3 -- they're $60.50 and up.*

The duo has had some hugely popular songs over the past year or so. Among those hits is "Closer," which hit #1 on charts around the world and the video for which has racked more than 1 billion views on Youtube.

That sort of success has spun out articles such as "Chainsmokers: How Hard-Partying EDM Dudes Conquered the Mainstream" and "Why Is the Chainsmokers' "Closer" the Biggest Song in the Country?"

Also on the bill for the TU Center show: Kiiara, K?D featuring Emily Warren.

* That's one of the higher starting-at tickets prices around here that we can remember. Just looking up some other shows for comparison: The upcoming, multiple-sold-out Garth Brooks shows at the TU Center were $65.73. And the Bruce Springsteen show a the TU Center last year was $58 and up.

photo via The Chainsmokers Facebook

John Mayer at TU Center, Kings of Leon at SPAC

Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon

Two concert announcements Monday morning...

John Mayer at the TU Center
John Mayer is lined up for a show at the Times Union Center March 31. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 3 -- they're $35.75 and up.

As it happens, the TU Center show will be the first stop on Mayer's new tour. "Each concert on the tour will be comprised of full band, solo acoustic and John Mayer Trio sets of music."

Kings of Leon at SPAC
The rock band Kings of Leon is set to play SPAC July 26. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, February 4 -- they're $29.50 and up. (There's also a lawn seat four-pack for $89.)

Openers for the show: Nathaniel Ratelieff and The Night Sweats.

The royalty of Leon were last at SPAC in 2014.

photo via Kings of Leon Facebook

Two more Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood shows added for TU Center

garth brooks

Tickets went on sale Friday for the the already-announced Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood shows at the TU Center in March. And the venue announced this morning it's adding two more shows.

Here are the dates: March 10, 11, and 12. Tickets are $65.73.

It sounds like there was an online crush to get the tickets this morning, but the TU Center was telling people Friday morning tickets were still available, and encouraging them to keep trying to get through.

Kanye West at the TU Center this December

kanye west

Announced late Tuesday (for real this time): Kanye West is set to play the TU Center December 11. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (October 22) -- $29.50.

The show is an extension of Kanye's Saint Pablo Tour. He was last here for a show at the TUC in 2014.

T.I. and Gucci Mane at TU Center

the rapper TI

T.I.

Lined up for the Times Union Center November 10: T.I. and Gucci Mane. Tickets went on sale this past Saturday -- they're $45 and up.

Both headliners grew out of the huge hip hop hotbed of Atlanta. T.I.'s sold millions of records and won multiple Grammys, and has recently started popping up in a bunch of movies. And Gucci Mane's been an influential presence while collaborating with a bunch of different artists. (See also this NYT article from this past summer about his efforts to get sober and healthy during a stint in prison.)

The lineup for the show at the TU Center also includes Fetty Wap and Kent Jones.

photo via T.I. FB page

The TU Center atrium renovation project has (officially) started

TU Center atrium renovation interior

A rendering of the design for the interior.

The renovation of the atrium of the Times Union Center officially started Wednesday. (There was a ceremonial sledgehammering of some concrete steps.) Maybe you've noticed the construction work -- and the narrowing of Pearl Street -- there recently. That's what the activity's been about.

The $19.6 million project will enclose the atrium along Pearl Street to make it usable for events all four seasons, expand the mezzanine space, reconfigure the stairs and escalators, and upgrade the bathrooms. Also: The design includes a large vertical sheet of falling water and new digital billboards on the exterior.

The north side of the atrium is currently the focus of the construction work. The plan is to have it ready by next spring, along with the new streetscape, and then switch the focus to the south side. The arena will be open during the work.

The renovation is part of the larger overall plan to connect the Empire State Plaza, the new Albany Capital Center on Eagle Street, and the TU Center into a chain of spaces that can be used for events both small and very large (the NCAA men's basketball tournament, for example). The convention center is scheduled to be ready in March of next year, and the walkway connecting all three venues will also be enclosed by then.

Here are renderings, along with a few construction pics from Wednesday, if you're curious...

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I Love the '90s tour at TU Center

I Love the 90s music tour logo

This is happening: A music tour called "I Love the 90's" is coming to the TU Center December 1. Tickets go on sale the general public this Friday (July 22) -- they're $56 and up.

The lineup for the tour consists of R&B acts from the 90s. And instead of just listing the lineup, we figured we'd have a little fun. Here are lyrics from each of the acts -- and we'll let you guess. (It shouldn't be hard if you're, uh, a certain age.)

+ "All right stop, Collaborate and listen"

+ "Coolin' by day then at night working up a sweat / C'mon girls, let's go show the guys that we know / How to become number one in a hot party show"

+ "I wanna rock right now /I'm _____ and I came to get down / I'm not internationally known / But I'm known to rock the microphone"

+ "Oh girl I think I love you I'm always thinkin' of you / I want you to know I do it all 4 love"

+ "As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death / I take a look at my life and realize there's none left / 'Cause I've been brassing and laughing so long that / Even my mamma thinks that my mind is gone"

+ "Workin' all week / 9 to 5 for my money / So when the weekend comes / I go get live with the honeys"

Lineup's after the jump.

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Capital District Roller Derby Showdown

capital district roller derby showdown 2016 posterCheck it out: The Albany All Stars and The Hellions of Troy will be facing off at the TU Center on June 4. It's the first time the two local roller derby orgs will go at it against each other on the track.

There is, of course, some history here. Back in 2008 the Albany All Stars Roller Derby had its first official bout at the Washington Ave Armory. And it was successful, drawing thousands of people. But later that year there was a derby schism and the Hellions of Troy broke off into their own org. Since then the two derby orgs have been operating in parallel here.

Both groups are now part of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, and they're separated by a just a handful of spots in the WFTDA rankings.

The bout at the TU Center will be a home game for the All Stars.

Doors open at 6 pm, the first whistle is at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 / $5 for kids 12 and under.

There will be music from Diva & the Dirty Boys, along with activities and a raffle. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Food Pantries of the Capital District. A non-perishable food item will get you entered in a drawing for a prize.

Blake Shelton at the TU Center

Blake Shelton 2016

Country star Blake Shelton is set to play the TU Center September 29. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 29 -- they're $39.75 and up.

Shelton's fame, of course, has also grown even bigger in recent years because of his spot as a judge on The Voice. (And he always seems to be showing up on the front of the tabs in the supermarket checkout aisle...)

TU Center concerts
There are a bunch of big pop music and comedy concerts lined up for the TU Center this year. Here's the schedule so far:

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Amy Schumer at the TU Center

comedian Amy Schumer

Comedian Amy Schumer is set for a stand-up show at the TU Center May 5. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 18 -- they're $39 and up.

Schumer's star has been steadily rising. A few years back her stand-up act was getting a lot of press, then her Comedy Central show got strong reviews. And then last year she starred in the film Trainwreck, which she wrote (and Judd Apatow directed) -- it brought in almost $140 million at the box office.

Her appearances here in Albany have tracked that path: a sold-out show at The Egg in 2013, a show at The Palace in 2014, and now the TU Center.

photo via Amy Schumer FB page

Cage the Elephant at TU Center

the band Cage The Elephant

The rock band Cage the Elephant is set to play a show at the TU Center May 11. Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 18 -- they're $29.50 and up.

Cage the Elephant was last through here in the summer of 2014 (for a show at UCH). They're touring in support of a new album out this past December that was produced by the Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

Also on the bill for the show: Portugal.The Man and Broncho.

Also announced today: Lynyrd Skynyrd, with Peter Frampton, June 3 at the TU Center. Tickets on sale this Friday, March 18.

photo: Ira Chernova

Jim Gaffigan at the TU Center

jim gaffigan 2016

Comedian Jim Gaffigan will be at the TU Center July 13 for a stand-up show. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 26 -- they're $36.75 and $46.75. (There are also various pre-sales this week.)

Gaffigan has appeared on something close to every TV show, both scripted and talk, either as a star, recurring character, or guest. And movies. And commercials. And his own comedy specials. His comedy tends to be observational stuff about everyday life things, like Hot Pockets.

A few years back, Gaffigan played a show at Proctors and it sold out. So, this show will probably be popular.

photo via Jim Gaffigan FB page

Comedy Get Down at the TU Center Albany

Comedy Get Down tour promo photo

The Comedy Get Down tour will be at the TU Center April 9. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 12 -- they're $26.75 and up.

The lineup for the tour includes a bunch of comics who have been all over TV and movies: Cedric 'The Entertainer', Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, and Charlie Murphy.

Dead & Company at TU Center

dead and company logo

Dead & Company -- featuring Grateful Dead members Bill Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart, and Bob Weir -- will be making a stop at the TU Center October 29. Tickets go on sale this Friday (August 28) -- they're $50 and up.

The lineup for this tour is being filled out by John Mayer (yep, that John Mayer), along with bassist Oteil Burbridge and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. Mayer has apparently been playing with members of the group since this past spring.

The show at the TU Center is the first stop on the group's 10-date tour. Other stops include Madison Square Garden (both dates already sold out), Philadelphia, DC, Worcester, San Francsico, and LA.

Kevin Hart at the TU Center

kevin hart 2015

Comedian Kevin Hart is set a stand-up showat the TU Center August 27. Tickets are $49.50 and up -- they go on sale February 20.

Hart is easily among the most famous stand-up comedians working now, and he's appeared in a bunch of movies and TV shows. Along the way he's built an entertainment empire for himself.

This will be Hart's second appearance at the TU Center -- he was also there back in 2012.

Live Nation advertises on AOA.

photo via Kevin Hart Twitter

Paul McCartney at the TU Center

paul mccartney

You might have heard: Paul McCartney is playing a show at the TU Center July 5. Tickets go on sale April 14 at 10 am (there's also a presale via registration at McCartney's site) -- the price range is $39.60 to $269.90.

McCartney is now 71 years old. It's been 50 years since he and the rest of the Beatles first came to the US -- their famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that year is said to have been watched by 73 million people (about 40 percent of the US population at the time).

McCartney's tours continue to be very popular. His tour last year was the 16th highest grossing, according to Billboard -- $69.6 million on just 21 shows (with tickets sold at just a bit under 100 percent capacity).

The hype
The TU Center had been touting this show as "the biggest event to come to Albany in the past decade," setting up the announcement for a press conference with local officials. And local media outlets were all buzzing about it Tuesday morning. That was especially so after mention of the date popped up on an "unofficial fan site" Facebook page for the McCartney tour, winning the FB page links from a bunch of outlets citing it as the official tour site.

As it happens, it appears that "fan page" FB page is a front for a ticket brokerage and SEO company.

photo: Paul McCartney FB

Bruce Springsteen at the TU Center

bruce springsteen 2014 jeans jacket

Announced this morning: Bruce Springsteen is set to play the TU Center May 13. Tickets go on sale this Friday (February 14) -- the price range is $38-$121.

The show in Albany will be with the E Street Band, as you'd probably expect. Springsteen has been touring in support of his new album, High Hopes.

The Boss last played Albany in 2012 at the TU Center.

By the way: This is shaping up to be a year of big-name concerts at the arena. Among the shows this year: Kanye West (February 19), Justine Justin Timberlake (July 16), and Bruno Mars (July 20).

Live Nation advertises on AOA.

photo via Bruce Springsteen FB

Bruno Mars at the TU Center

bruno mars

Pop star Bruno Mars is set to play a show at the TU Center July 20. Tickets go on sale February 3 -- they're $43 and up.

Mars is one of the biggest pop acts currently in circulation. His most recent album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. He's had five #1 singles. He pulled off the rare host-and-perform on SNL. He's nominated for song of the year and record of the year at this year's Grammys. And he's playing the Super Bowl halftime show this year.

The opener for the July 20 show at the TU Center is Aloe Blacc.

Live Nation advertises on AOA.

photo: Kai Z Feng via Bruno Mars website

Kanye West at the TU Center

kanye west

Just announced: Kanye West will play a show at the Times Union Center February 19. Tickets go on sale this Friday (January 10) at 10 am -- they're $49.50 and up.

The Albany stop is part of two-week tour through the Northeast, an extension of his tour for Yeezus. It's a solo tour.

There's a strong argument to be made that West is the biggest figure in pop culture now (it's gotta be him or Beyonce) -- because of his music, his public persona, his relationship. It's not every day/every year/every decade someone like that makes a stop in the Capital Region.

photo via Kanye West FB

Justin Timberlake at the TU Center

justin timberlake

Announced today: Justin Timberlake will be playing a concert at the TU Center July 16, 2014. Tickets go on sale next Monday (November 18) at 10 am -- they're $48 and up.

Back in the late 1990s if you had predicted that Justin Timberlake -- the guy from 'N Sync with the frosted tips who broke up with Britney Spears -- would end up being a hugely successful solo musical act and actor in 2013, it would have seemed unlikely. The trajectory post-boy band rarely takes such a successful direction. Yet here he is. And Timberlake has even ended up with a public persona that's kinda funny and likable.

photo via Justin Timberlake FB page

NKOTB, Boyz II Men, 98º at the TU Center

nkotb boyzIImen 98degrees tourThrough some sort of wrinkle in time, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, and 98º have been transported from the 90s to the present day and will be at the Times Union Center August 1 for a show. Tickets for this time travel event go on sale to the general public February 23 -- they're $29.50 and up.

Unfortunately -- and somewhat mysteriously given what little is known about time travel -- the transport from an earlier decade has aged the members of the three groups. When NKOTB emerged from the wormhole, reportedly it was as 40something men. And Nick Lachey was talking about how he excited he is to be dating Jessica Simpson.

Sadly, Marky Mark didn't make it through the wormhole. Please join the Funky Bunch and Donnie Wahlberg in a moment of silence.

Oh, and their fans? Haven't aged a day.

Live Nation advertises on AOA.

Andrea Bocelli at the TU Center

andrea bocelli album coverTenor Andrea Bocelli will be at the TU Center June 13. Tickets start at $78 -- they go on sale this coming Monday, January 28 (there's currently a pre-sale).

Bocelli has sold something just short of a zillion albums (OK, the number is 80 million). And he's a huge PBS fave. As it would happen, he has both a new album and PBS special coming out soon:

The June 2013 Tour will come in support of Andrea Bocelli's upcoming release Passione which will be released on January 29, 2013 along with a brand new PBS television special of the samename in March 2013. Passione is a lush collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with global pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and the late Edith Piaf.

Is it too much to hope for an Edith Piaf hologram?

The show at the TU Center will probably sell out. And the upper end of the ticket price range is $353. Over at Nippertown, Greg notes some context for that price.

Speaking of shows the PBS crowd is totally stoked about: "The Tenors" will be at the Palace May 4. Tickets start at $39.50 -- they go on sale to the public February 9. The quartet currently has the #1 album on the Billboard classical chart. Also: obligatory PBS special.

Speaking of the Billboard classical chart: The current #2 album on the list is from Lindsey Stirling, who's playing at Upstate Concert Hall March 20. Of course, Stirling isn't really "classical" in the classical sense, other than the fact that she plays a violin -- she's famous for incorporating dubstep and playing covers of video game music.

Roger Waters playing The Wall at TU Center

roger waters the wall posterRoger Waters will be playing the classic Pink Floyd album The Wall at the TU Center June 28, 2012. Yep, that's a long time from now. But tickets go on sale November 14. They start at $58.

Waters has been touring The Wall since last year. As you might expect, the show is apparently quite the spectacle. Here's Waters on why he touring the album.

On the subject of old English rock stars: Peter Frampton is playing the Palace February 10.

And on the subject of rock stars who have seen better days: Guns N Roses at the TU Center November 23 (if Axl can make it that long)

Earlier on AOA: The Capital Region as retro music land

Tickets for Cirque du Soleil at TU Center

cirque du soleil statue

Just like you at your yoga class, right?

Update: The drawing's closed. The winner has been emailed!

The Cirque du Soleil show "Quidam" starts a five day run at the Times Union Center this Wednesday. From the blurbage:

Young Zoé is bored; her parents, distant and apathetic, ignore her. Her life has lost all meaning. Seeking to fill the void of her existence, she slides into an imaginary world - the world of Quidam - where she meets characters who encourage her to free her soul.

You know, through acrobatics and improbable flexibility.

The promoters of the show have offered us a pair of tickets to the first night performance on Wednesday at 7:30 pm -- and we'd like to offer them to you. To enter the drawing, please answer this question in the comments:

What local situation or place is a circus?

Think broadly -- it could be anything crazy good or crazy bad. Example: the checkout lines at the supermarket ahead of an icy, snowy apocalypse. We'll draw one winner at random from the comments.

Cirque du Soleil's "Quidam" will be at the TU Center Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets start at $30.50.

Important: All comments must be submitted by 9 am on Tuesday (September 27, 2011) to be entered in the drawing. You must answer the question to be part of the drawing. One entry per person, please. You must enter a valid email address (that you check regularly) with your comment. The winner will be notified via email by noon on Tuesday and must respond by 6 pm that same day.

The Great Zamboni

Zamboni Composite

By Liz Clancy Lerner

Part ice resurfacing machine, part intermission entertainment, it's no wonder everyone loves the Zamboni.

I had the chance to talk with Kevin Appler, a Zamboni driver for the Times Union Center, this week at an Albany Devils game. And I learned quite a bit: how the Zamboni works, how someone gets a job as a driver, and the fact that Zambonis don't really have brakes...

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Ladies and gentlmen, your Albany Devils...

albany devils logoThe NHL's New Jersey Devils officially announced today that they're moving their minor league affiliate in Lowell, Massachusetts to Albany and the TU Center. (The River Rats scurried off to North Carolina earlier this year.)

The new team name: the Albany Devils. That's the logo on the right.

We're now wondering what the mascot will be. Buzzy Beelezubub? Dev the Devil? Pitchfork Pete? The parent club's mascot is the creatively named...N.J. Devil.

This is the second time New Jersey's had a team based here -- the Rats had been their minor league team for 13 seasons, ending in 2006.

Earlier on AOA: Rowdy the Rat goes searching for a new home

Open skate at the TU Center

tu center ice

You know, so you can work on your triple lutzes.

This could be fun: the TU Center is holding open ice skating sessions February 16-18 (that's next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). There will be three sessions a day:


  • 12 pm - 2 pm

  • 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

  • 5 pm - 7pm

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12 and under. (The tickets will only be sold day of.) Skate rental is $5. If you print out this flyer, you can park in the TUC garage for $3.

More info: 487-2000.

Ford takes shot at Gillibrand and Schumer, TU Center turns profit, second ESP man caver sentenced, Phillip Livingston school up for sale

Harold Ford was in Albany yesterday to make the rounds at the Capitol and ESP -- and take shots at both Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer. Ford said on Talk 1300 that both senators were elected to be independent and not act like a "parakeet" for for the Democratic Party. A Gillibrand spokesman shot back: "The notion that [Ford] is independent is completely contrived." Said one legislative intern to the TU after meeting Ford on the ESP concourse: "He should really look into getting a New York accent." [AP/Troy Record] [NYO] [NYDN] [NYT] [TU]

David Paterson said yesterday that his potential gubernatorial campaign opponents shouldn't be hiding in the "candidate protection program." [NYDN]

Annoyed that the governor keeps calling them back for special sessions, the legislature has decided to just not adjourn -- basically blocking more special sessions. [Daily Politics]

Albany County announced that the Times Union Center, which it owns, turned a profit of almost $1.8 million last year -- up from about $900k the year before. That's the second-highest profit in the facility's 20-year history (not adjusted for inflation). [Albany County] [TU]

(there's more)

The Scoop

For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

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