Live music in Schenectady, NY

The Lark St Tavern introduces a new jazz jam led by internationally recognized bassist Tarik Shah. Drawing on performances with Gregory Porter, Pharoah Sanders, Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, he leads an open session where players at any skill level can join the music, learn from others, and perform. Listeners can settle in for a live jam, food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere. This addition complements the tavern’s ongoing jazz offerings and creates more opportunities to experience live music each week.

Pat Metheny brings his newest ensemble, Side-Eye III+, to The Egg for an evening centered on the release of their self-titled album on his label, Uniquity Music. A trailblazer for more than five decades, Metheny started on trumpet as a child, moved to guitar in his early teens, and by fifteen was already performing with leading Kansas City jazz artists. After joining Gary Burton’s band in 1974, he developed a singing, horn-inspired approach to the guitar with lyrical touch and rhythmic ease. His debut, Bright Size Life (1975), expanded what jazz guitar could sound like and influenced countless players. With more than 20 million albums sold and 20 Grammy Awards across ten categories, his reach spans collaborations with Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Jim Hall, Milton Nascimento, and David Bowie. His writing ranges from intimate solo pieces and orchestral scores to the technology-driven Orchestrion project. As an educator, Metheny became the youngest faculty member at the University of Miami and later at Berklee College of Music, where he received an honorary doctorate. His honors include the DownBeat Hall of Fame, NEA Jazz Master, and induction into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Missouri Hall of Fame. Side-Eye III+ appears in support of the new album and the broader launch of Uniquity Music, which will encompass Metheny’s recordings from 1984 onward as well as future projects.

At Lark Street Tavern, open mic night welcomes performers to step up and share their songs. The night features live sets from local singers and songwriters in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Attendees can sip a drink and take in an evening of music, guitars, and friendly company.

Step up to the mic at an open session created for musicians. A house band is on hand and a full backline is provided, so you can plug in and play without extra gear. Add your name to the signup sheet to get on stage. On-site parking makes arrival simple. Grab a deal with 10 wings for $10, and unwind between sets at one of the two pool tables.

Waterworks hosts a weekly drag show with a changing lineup of hosts and performers. Enjoy music, drinks, and drag entertainment in a welcoming setting that highlights Albany nightlife and the local drag scene. Each week offers a fresh mix of talent on stage.

Liz Phair takes the stage at The Egg with support from Frankie Cosmos. Rising to fame with Exile in Guyville, she has since carved out a wide-ranging career, releasing five albums, selling more than five million records, writing music for television, and earning two Grammy nominations. Her 2019 memoir, Horror Stories from Random House, was noted for its frank reflections on fame, motherhood, and aging. In 2021 she reunited with Exile in Guyville producer Brad Wood for Soberish, a release praised by outlets such as Variety and The New Yorker for its power and the spark that echoes her early work. Matador revisited Exile in Guyville in 2018 with a deluxe set that included a remaster and the first officially restored versions of her 1991 Girly-Sound cassette recordings, a collection that received a perfect score from Pitchfork. Over the years she has appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone, led SPIN’s year-end list, and topped the Village Voice Pazz and Jop Critics Poll. She also headlined the main stage of Lilith Fair in 1998 and 1999 alongside artists including Sarah McLachlan, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, and Missy Elliott. More than three decades after her debut, her influence on contemporary music, especially among women, remains strong.

Jazz Evenings brings live jazz to the stylish lobby at The Landing Hotel. Settle in for a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy the music with a thoughtfully made cocktail.

This concert at The Egg features múm, pronounced moom, an Icelandic group whose exploratory sound blends electronic experimentation, gentle vocals, glitchy rhythms, inventive sampling, and haunting textures shaped by both traditional and unconventional instruments. Formed in 1997 by Gunnar Örn Tynes and Örvar Smárason, the band has released six studio albums along with numerous singles, EPs, collaborations, and works for theater and film. Notable milestones include Whistle, a 2013 single with Kylie Minogue from the film Jack & Diane, for which they had composed the original score the year before. In 2015 they created Drowning with German pianist and composer Hauschka, a commission from the MDR Sinfonieorchester in Leipzig that was performed that summer. Their projects also span a semi improvised electronic score for the silent film Menschen am Sonntag and a special Iceland Airwaves 2016 collaboration with the Kronos Quartet at Harpa, revisiting songs from their back catalog. In 2019 they released a 20th anniversary edition of their 1999 debut Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today Is OK and toured Europe and China to mark the occasion, with a planned US leg in spring 2020 postponed due to the global pandemic.

Lark St Tavern hosts karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights, featuring six large screens that display lyrics and a sound system that supports every performance. Sign-up takes place before the singing starts, and arriving early helps secure a spot on the list.

An evening of live jazz unfolds in the elegant lobby of The Landing Hotel, where smooth melodies fill a refined setting. Enjoy a carefully crafted cocktail as the music sets a relaxed backdrop for conversation and unwinding.

Enjoy an entire evening dedicated to Rush as The Goldman Boys guide the audience through music from every era of the band. This tribute traces the evolution of their sound across their career for a full night that celebrates their catalog.