2025 Music Haven Summer Season Announced

Music Haven released the 2025 summer lineup for their 35th season in Central Park in Schenectady with a diverse program of genres from global jazz to Punjabi party music.

photo looking out on crowd at Music Haven with trees in the background

Music Haven is a free concert series, bringing international music to Schenectady since 1990. This season will run from July 13 through Aug. 29 with shows every Sunday at 7 p.m. plus extra events in between.

The season starts with Red Baraat, a Punjabi party band called “the best party band in years” by NPR. The Brooklyn-based band will stop at Music Haven on their 2025 tour in support of their new album Bhangra Rangeela.

On July 26, WEXT’s 518 Local Fest will bring five bands to the Central Park stage playing genres of rock, soul, Americana and folk. Headlining the half-day event is Wild Adriatic, a Saratoga-based rock band, blending blues and soul, and Sawyer Fredericks a singer-songwriter who won Season 8 of “The Voice.”

On the following day, Solas will take the Music Haven stage, marking their 30th anniversary as a pioneering Celtic group.

The summer will also feature the Alfresco Film Series, three blockbuster films on the last three Fridays of the season. Respect tells the life story of Aretha Franklin, played by Academy-award winner Jennifer Hudson. This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 cult classic that defined the mockumentary genre, following a British heavy metal band on an American tour. The series and the season will close out on Aug. 29 with Wicked Sing-Along starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical.

The rain site for most shows is Proctors with exceptions being SUNY Schenectady Faculty Jazz Combo show (SUNY Schenectady’s Carl B. Taylor Auditorium), WAMC On the Road (William W. Ziskin Black Box Theater at Schenectady High School), Alfresco Film Series (Scene One Movieland in downtown Schenectady), and WEXT 518 Local Fest will be held rain or shine in the park. For more information about the 2025 Music Haven Season, click here.

Photo by Tim Reidy

Music Haven 2025 Season Lineup

July 13 — 7 PM — Red Baraat (Punjabi party band)

July 18 — 7 PM — SUNY Schenectady Faculty Jazz Combo (Jazz)

July 20 — 7 PM — Bamba Wassoulou Groove (Malian Bambara)

July 26 — 3-9 PM — WEXT’s Local 518 Fest

July 27 — 7 PM — Solas’ 30th Anniversary Tour (Celtic)

Aug. 3 — 5-9:30 PM — Blues BBQ featuring Rick Estrin & The Night Cats

Aug. 9 — 7 PM — “Classical Mystery Tour:” A Tribute to the Beatles with the Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra

Aug. 10 — 7 PM — The SteelDrivers (Bluegrass)

Aug. 15 — 6-9:30 PM — Alfresco Film Series: Respect

Aug. 16 — 7 PM — WAMC on the Road presents “Hudson River Sampler” with Wanda Fischer

Aug. 17 — 7 PM — Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience (Zydeco)

Aug. 22 — 6-9:30 PM — Alfresco Film Series: This is Spinal Tap

Aug. 24 — 7 PM — Edmar Castañeda World Ensemble (Global Jazz)

Aug. 29 — 6-9:30 PM — Alfresco Film Series: Wicked: The Sing-Along

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