Music Haven Gears Up to Go Around the World in 62 Days
34th Annual Series Set to Bring the World to the Park
Music Haven Concert Series 2024
Sundays at 7 p.m. /Special Events as noted
July 7–Sept. 6
Music Haven Stage
Central Park, Schenectady, NY
Free
(Rain site for most performances is Proctors)
Schenectady is once again primed to play host to the region’s most diverse slate of worldclass international touring artists in Central Park as its Eddie Award-winning ‘Outdoor Venue / Concert Series of the Year’, Music Haven, announces the details of its (34th annual) free spin around the world. From July 7 through September 6, the popular summer venue will welcome audiences from all corners to 10 spectacular concerts and a Blues BBQ, a new three-part film and event series and the region’s only staging of a full-length improvised musical.
Music Haven 2024 launches with the highly danceable Afrofusion of Mokoomba. Up next, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band with an evening of Louisiana Zydeco, followed by the fiery Balkan brass, funky grooves, Roma (Gypsy) accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops of Slavic Soul Party. Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year,” Goitse, holds down the season’s Celtic slot. Jazz Journalists Association’s “Clarinetist of the Year,” Anat Cohen debuts her Brazilian Quartetinho. Eliades Ochoa, the founding soñero of Buena Vista Social Club, brings classic Cuban Son to bear. Global jazz and folk chanteuse, Magdalini Giannikou, caps the global series with songs in 7 languages, accompanied by her Banda Magda.
Music Haven’s annual Summer Social event on Sunday, Aug. 11 wraps a casual, ticketed dinner buffet under the Central Park pavilion and a stage-side meet and greet after the show around what promises to be the standout Cuban concert of the season, featuring Eliades Ochoa. Tickets available at www.musichavenstage.org - Click on Summer Social
Several notable non-Sunday performances—listed below—will broaden Music Haven’s cultural reach even further.
As per Music Haven tradition, the roll call of special guests for the season is just as impressive as the headliners they join. From the to the NOLA-style second line stylings of The Brass Machine to the melodic Macedonian Izverna (Roots) music of Niva, the authentic Piedmont picking of Piedmont Bluz, the world beats a path to Music Haven’s door. The Capital Region’s own Celtic standouts Hair of the Dog, along with authentic West African drummer Jordan Taylor Hill and dancers, ace jazz quartet Art D’echo Trio +1 and Cuban salsa sextet Bolero Blues, led by Walter Ramos. An artist to usher in the August 18 concert is TBA.
A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase at all shows.
Yanni’s 2-Go will serve hungry Music Haven fans for all global concerts; Flacos Tacos will be on hand for select performances. And, as has become tradition, international offerings reflecting the locales from which the artists come will be served from the concession stand. Menu highlights appear on www.musichavenstage.org – click on Dining Options - and will be posted on the Music Haven Concert Series Facebook page the day before each show.
Wine and local craft beverages from Frog Alley and Wolf Hollow Brewing Companies and Nine Pin Cider are available throughout the season. And Ben & Jerry’s will again scoop premium ice cream at each show.
In the case of inclement weather, Proctors remains the official rain site for Music Haven. Niskayuna High School auditorium will serve in this capacity on August 4 & 10 (when Tina: The Tina Turner Musical takes over Proctors).
For biographical information about the artists scheduled to perform, related news articles and archives of seasons past, visit Music Haven’s website, www.musichavenstage.org. For updates and new details about upcoming shows—including weather calls— visit Music Haven Concert Series on Facebook and Instagram.
The Agnes Macdonald Music Haven is family-friendly, easily accessible and has been oft-voted the “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” and “Best Concert Series” in the Capital Region.
Music Haven 2024
7 p.m. Sundays
July 7—Mokoomba (Afrofusion)
Special Guests: Crossroads—Jordan Taylor Hill
www.mokoomba.band
July 14—Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band (Zydeco)
Special Guests: The Brass Machine
www.productionslb.com
July 21—Slavic Soul Party (Balkan Brass Roma Gypsy Funk Band)
Special Guest: Niva
www.slavicsoulparty.com
July 28—Goitse (Traditional Irish)
Special Guest: Hair of the Dog
www.goitse.ie/
Aug. 4—Anat Cohen Quartetinho (Brazilian Jazz)
Special Guest: Art D’echo Trio +1
www.anatcohen.com
Aug. 11—Eliades Ochoa (Classic Cuban Son)
Special Guests: Bolero Blues
www.eliadesochoaofficial.com
Aug. 18—Banda Magda (Global Folk & Jazz Songs)
Special Guests: TBA
www.magdalini.co/
Additional performances at Music Haven 2024
All shows 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted
Monday, August 5
SUNY Schenectady Jazz Faculty Combo
With Featured Guest Delfeayo Marsalis
www.dmarsalis.com
Friday, August 9
42nd Infantry Division Band of the New York Army National Guard
Saturday, August 10
Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra
‘A Tribute to John Williams’
www.sssony.org
Friday, August 16
Blues BBQ & WEXT Radio's birthday party!
5:00 – 9:30PM
Blood Brothers
www.bloodbrothersband.com
Saturday, August 24
MOPCO Improv Theater “Spontaneous Broadway”
www.mopcoimprov.com
Alfresco Film & Event Series
Presented in partnership with Film Schenectady
Friday, August 23
‘Bollywood Night’
5:00-10:00PM
featuring Veena & Devesh Chandra, Lalita Ramnauth, Indian & Guyanese Food, & Fun followed by a screening of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge MC: Mahendra Prag
Friday, August 30
‘Reggae Sunset’
5:00-9:30PM
featuring Meta & The Cornerstones, Caribbean Food & Fun, followed by a screening of Bob Marley: One Love
Friday, September 6
‘Paint the Park Pink’
5:00-9:30PM
Featuring Classic Summer & Pink Food & Fun, followed by a screening of the award-winning blockbuster, Barbie