Music Haven Announces 2023 Summer Lineup

Music Haven 2023 in Central Park in Schenectady announced its summer lineup, kicking off its 33 season of “traveling the world one concert at a time.”

Music Haven 2023 will take listeners 50,000 miles and back while presenting music and performing arts from Ghana, Andalusia, Ireland, Texas, Gambia, Louisiana, South Asia, Georgia, Stratford-upon-Avon, and beyond. “This summer, our musical journeys will cross seven distinct bodies of water—The Atlantic and Indian Oceans; the Alboran, Black, Mediterranean, and Arabian Seas; and the Bay of Bengal” says Eddie Award-winning Producing Artistic Director Mona Golub. “We’ll gather to hear spectacular global artists who have not played these parts before, welcome back some old friends who have dazzled the world since they last graced our stage, and showcase, as special guests, some of the finest talents our region has to offer.”

Each show features a variety of food and beverages available for purchase at all shows beginning at 6 p.m. on 7 p.m. concert nights and throughout festivals and special events. Michele’s Charcoal Pit and Ben & Jerry’s return with food and dessert available for purchase. Reflecting tradition, international offerings showcasing the locales from which the global artists come will be sold at the concession stand. Proctors is the official rain site for concerts on July 9 – July 23 and Aug. 20, with Niskayuna High School serving as the rain site July 30–Aug. 13. Shows scheduled on Aug. 11, 25, and 26, will take place in the park rain or shine. All concerts start at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.

Music Haven 2023 Lineup

July 9—Rocky Dawuni

**moved to Proctors.

Groove to the rhythms of Ghanaian multi-Grammy-nominated “Afro Roots,” a mixture of Reggae, Afrobeat, Highlife, and Soul music, artist Rocky Dawuni. An international star and champion of social causes, Dawuni straddles Africa, the Caribbean Islands, and the United States, and is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa. Opening for him is Zorkie Nelson and Umoja Drummers, thumping out beats on authentic handmade instruments.

 July 13—La Banda Morisca

La Banda Morisca, an Andalusian sextet, pays homage to their ancient Al-Andalus cultural heritage while rocking it forward with rich sonic accents from North Africa’s Maghreb Desert and the Middle East. Opening for them is Maria Zemantauski, a master of the Flamenco guitar.

July 16—Joey Alexander

Returning for the first time since 2015, Joey Alexander has appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals and events, wowing audiences with his proficient mastery of the piano. Opening is Joe Barna and Sketches of Influence who similarly appraise jazz with one eye on the past and the other on the future.

Joey Alexander.

July 22 from 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.—NipperFest Music & Arts Festival

Celebrating all things 518, the festival features 16 bands on two stages, including Billboard AAA Top 40 artists Jocelyn and Chris, an artist pavilion, food trucks, and craft beer. 

July 23—Sona Jobarteh

Gambian singer, educator, and activist Sona Jobarteh is the first professional female Kora virtuoso to hail from any of the great West African Griot dynasties. She will mesmerize listeners with her distinctively modern riff on an ancient African groove. Opening for her is Heard.

Sona Jobarteh.

July 30 from 5-9 p.m.—Blues BBQ featuring Vanessa Collier, Johnny Sansone, and Jontavious Willis

July concludes with Music Haven’s annual Blues BBQ featuring Blues Music Award’s reigning Contemporary Female Blues Artist, Vanessa Collier, New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Johnny Sansone and Taj Mahal protégé Jontavious Willis.

Aug. 5—Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra

August kicks off with the newly renamed Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra. Under the baton of Artistic Director Glen Cortese, the SSSO returns with “Legends of Broadway,” selections from beloved musicals including West Side Story, Les Miserables, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and more.

 Aug. 6—Eileen Ivers

The original star of “Riverdance,” a founding member of Cherish the Ladies, and a nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers has played with Sting, The Chieftains, and Symphony Orchestras alike and has been called “The Future of the Celtic fiddle.” Opening for her are The McKrells, blending Celtic and bluegrass to create a sound enjoyed around the world.

Aug. 11 from 5-9 p.m.—In the Heights

Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for creating the hit musical Hamilton is celebrated with a Latin Block Party featuring live music by Taina Asili and Latin food, followed by a screening of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights.

Aug. 13—Aditya Prakash Ensemble

The Aditya Prakash Ensemble fuses South Asian Karnatik vocals with jazz and funk. One of the youngest musicians to ever perform with sitar legend Ravi Shankar, Prakash is a master of South Indian Karnatik singing. Opening is the SUNY Schenectady Jazz Faculty Combo, comprised of the region’s most talented players and educators.

Aug. 20—Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole

Cedric Watson is a four-time Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter, and one of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco over the last decade. Opening are Old-Fashioned Aces who will wow audiences with their deeply-rooted traditional Cajun sounds.

Aug. 25–26—Will Kempe’s Players

The Capital Region’s own traveling Shakespearean troupe Will Kempe’s Players, closes the 2023
season with back-to-back repertory performances of the Bard’s The Taming of the Shrew and Two
Gentlemen of Verona
. Period music by Andy Rutherford on lute and Yvonne Hansbrough on flute.

For more information about Music Haven 2023, visit here.

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