City of Albany Office of Special Events & Volunteer Services City Hall – 4 th Floor Albany, New York 12207 (518) 434-2032 fax: (518) 426-0759 www.albanyevents.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2009 CONTACT: Melli Rose, Public Relations Coordinator 518-434-2032 * Alive at Five Concert Series * Celebrating 20 Years of FREE Entertainment th June 4th – August 13 , 2009 Albany, New York – Mayor Jerry Jennings and the City of Albany are pleased to announce the musical line up for the 2009 Alive at Five Concert Series. This series of free, outdoor concerts is celebrating its 20 th year of FREE musical performances. Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. downtown Albany heats up with lively music – a different theme each week! Food and beverage vendors complete the scene for a great way to start your weekend. In 2009, an additional week will be added to the schedule, to offer residents & visitors 11 weeks of FREE summer concerts along the Hudson River. All concerts will be held at Albany Riverfront Park* . *The rain location is at the Corning Preserve Boat Launch under the I-787 overpass. Additional information: (518) 434-2032 or www.albanyevents.org . June 4 ~ OPENING NIGHT Blues Traveler Grammy Award winning Blues Traveler doesn’t need too much introduction. The founding members consisting of New Jersey teenagers began playing as high-school friends and quickly earned a local reputation for their high-energy, heavily improvisational live shows. Out of eight studio albums and four live discs, six of them certified Gold or Platinum, this group has a combined world wide sale of more than 10 million units, including the band’s best known single “Run-Around”, the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history. Opening Band: Jim Weider’s Project Percolator Sponsored by: Bud Light & Michelob Amber Bock 99.5 The River June 11 ~ OLDIES NIGHT The Platters & The Cornell Gunter Coasters The Platters first formed during the dawn of the Rock & Roll era. The list of hits turned out by the original Platters includes ten songs that qualified for Billboard’s list of the 500 greatest rock & roll hits of all time, including “Only You” & “The Magic Touch”. Cornell Gunter formed the group Cornell Gunter’s Coasters out of the ashes of the surprising breakup of the original Coasters 35 years ago. Over the years, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters have continually built up a new market for their approach to 1950’s music. It’s been ten years since Cornell passed away but The Cornell Gunter Coasters remind us of original Coasters hits such as “Searchin” and “Young Blood.” Opening Band: Wylder Sponsored by: New York Lottery Magic 100.9 June 18 ~ SOUTHERN ROCK NIGHT The Marshall Tucker Band From their first LP in 1973, to their latest release of the “LOVE SONGS” CD in February of 2009, the Marshall Tucker Band has never stopped recording or touring. They have played countless concert venues around the world and these years of rigorous tour schedules have earned the band the respect of critics and dedicated fans. With hit singles like "Heard It In a Love Song," "Fire On The Mountain," "Can't You See," and "Take The Highway," The Marshall Tucker Band earned seven gold and three platinum albums while they were on the Capricorn Records label. With the success of the Volunteer Jam Tour, and release of their latest CD Gospel, in 1999, the good ol' boys from Spartanburg, South Carolina remain as a powerful force in the world of music. Opening Band: Jefferson Thomas PYX 106 June 25 ~ GIRLS NIGHT OUT Grace Potter & The Nocturnals They’re a neoclassic rock & roll band possessing bona fide chops, a natural sense of dynamics and a palate containing all the useful colors, and these qualities allow them to stretch out on stage, to riveting effect. The band’s timeless, organic brand of American rock & roll is fully evident in their newest release “This is Somewhere”, although, GPN has also been associated as up-and-coming darlings of the modern jazz and blues scene. Perhaps their greatest asset is the ability to transcend genres, never content to settle into one predefined sound. Opening Songwriter: Deni Bonet Buzz 105.7 July 2 ~ DISCO NIGHT The Village People Producer/Composer Jacques Morali found Felipe dancing in his Indian costume in a crowd in NY’s Greenwich Village. Felipe’s special visual attraction brought the idea to mind to put together a group of Village icons from a variety of American social groups. The Village People have headlined performances with openers such as Madonna and Joan Rivers in many capital cities across the globe. YMCA is their best selling single to date, amassing sales of over 12 million units worldwide and their catalog of combined LP’s and singles has topped 65 million in worldwide sales. Opening Band: Refrigerators Sponsored by: Key Bank 98.3 WTRY July 9 ~ IRISH NIGHT Black 47 In 1993 Black 47 changed Irish-American Music irrevocably when they burst out of MTV screens with their hit single “Funky Ceili”. Not only were people dancing in the aisles of their concerts, they introduced a new generation to the literature, politics and soul of Irish Culture. Their sound is best explained as traditional melodies laced with rock, reggae, hip-hop, New Orleans and modern Jazz. In their current theatrical show, songwriter Larry Kirwan (Ireland) and his comrades offer a thrilling journey through history and political struggle that will not only entertain but open up audiences to a new cultural experience. Opening Band: Kevin McKrell & The Hard Road Ceili Band Sponsored by: Crowne Plaza Hotel Fly 92.3 July 16 ~ LATIN NIGHT Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra Since 1980, this 11 piece local orchestral sensation has been the recipient of numerous awards including the New England Cultural Arts Preservation Award, The Governor’s Excellence in Arts Award & Metroland Magazine’s “Best Of’ Award for seven consecutive years. Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra have shared the stage with major acts such as Tito Puente, Andy Montanez, Los Hermanos Moreno, Brandford Marsalis, The Count Basie and Woody Herman Orchestras and more. The group is also registered with the Arts-In-Education Program of New York State. Opening Band: Sensemaya Sponsored by: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Jamz 96.3 July 23 ~ TRIBUTE NIGHT Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” For more than two decades, this dynamic, highly acclaimed show has touched the hearts of fans all over the world. Hotel California faithfully & accurately reproduce the Grammy award winning sounds of the Eagles. A spirited blend of originality has taken the group to a level of international recognition normally reserved for gold and platinum recording artists. Each concert presents an exciting showcase of the Eagles mega hits such as “Take it Easy”, “Heartache Tonight” and of course “Hotel California” as well as selected titles from the solo works of Don Henley, Glen Frey & Joe Walsh. Opening Band: Aloud Sponsored by: Allied Waste Services PYX 106 July 30 ~ HORN POWER NIGHT Tower of Power No matter who you are, where you live, or your taste in music, Tower of Power will find you. And once that happens, it’s all over. You’ll find them everywhere, including the radio, you just may not know it. Their up-front brass section serving as the prototype for today’s retro-swing bands, and lending their singular horns to immortal tracks by Elton John, Rod Stewart, the Eurythmics and Phish. Just as many fans do at their high-energy sold-out shows, stand in front of the stage and bathe in the sonic blast of brass & funk. Opening Band: Out of Control Rhythm & Blues Band Sponsored by local restaurants: Bayou Café, Blue 82, Jillians, McGeary’s, Riverfront Bar & Grill, Victory Café B95.5 August 6 ~ SOUL NIGHT Neville Brothers A feeling for blues-soaked deep pocket grooves is the basis of their greatness and exalted place in our cultural history. The story starts in the fifty’s when Art (Poppa Funk) formed the first band in New Orleans. After years of changes and separate solo paths, the Neville’s continue to provoke, entertain and excite audiences around the globe whether they play together or apart. Family brings them together, family keeps them together, family is everything. With family, there is the miracle of Neville music, four brothers, creating some of the funkiest sounds this world has ever heard. Opening Band: Mingo Fishtrap Sponsored by: Walmart Magic 100.9 August 13 ~ REGGAE NIGHT The Original Wailers Bob Marley and the Wailers have sold more than 25 million albums over the past 40 years, and it has been his band that has helped create this international success. Keyboard player Earl “Way” Lindo first joined the Wailers in 1973, when the debut album “Catch a Fire” was first released. Al Anderson joined the Wailers a year later, playing on hits like “No Woman No Cry”. Bob Marley enrolled singer/guitarist Junior Marvin during sessions for the Exodus and Kaya albums and his solo sounds resonate on tracks like “Waiting in Vain”, “The Heathen” and “Jammin”. Junior, Al & Way toured and recorded with Marley until his death in 1981. Now The Original Wailers, with Junior handling all lead vocals, promise to recreate musical history as they continue to spread the message of “One Love.” Opening Band: Bearin’ Peace Exit 97.7 FM Premier Sponsors of the 2009 Season: Key Bank, Bud Light & Amber Bock 2009 Season Television Media Sponsorship by : WXXA Fox 23 News 2009 Season Print Media Sponsorship by: Metroland, Times Union Additional Media support from: Get Mobile Advertising, Spiral Design Studio Additional Sponsors: Clough Harbour & Associates Fuller & O’Brien Insurance, a division of Arthur J Gallagher New York FOR MORE INFORMATION: 518-434-2032 or WWW.ALBANYEVENTS.ORG Special Ground Rules in effect: NO alcoholic beverages, coolers, backpacks, bags, containers, packages, thermoses, cups, bottles, cans, flasks, glass containers of any kind; animals or pets*.