Preview: September 21st is a Capital Region Hat Trick
Photo by Kiki Vassilakis
“This Saturday, there are so many things happening in the Capital Region that if anyone you know says they’re bored, we give you permission to slap them. Gently, of course – we don’t want a lawsuit on our hands.“
In all seriousness, between PearlPalooza, Singlecut North’s Oktoberfest and Farm Aid, the 518 will be reverberating with great music and killer activities for the entire day. The best part? You don’t even have to debate which one to go to, because you can travel straight up the Northway and hit all three! Follow along with us, won’t you?
Beginning in Albany, PearlPalooza is being held for the fifteenth year on North Pearl Street in Downtown Albany. Presented by Indian Ladder Farms, Driscoll Foods, and Albany Mechanical Services, the free, all-ages event is an incomparable music festival that the community looks forward to every year.
“I most look forward to seeing all the smiling faces,” Jeff Morad of WEQX tells me, “all while supporting live music and local businesses. We celebrate diversity and inclusion so come on out whether it’s your first PearlPalooza or your fifteenth!”
Photo by Kiki Vassilakis
WEQX is one of the sponsors of the event, and the curators of the live entertainment, which this year includes nationally touring acts Robert DeLong, Jakob Nowell and The Ramona Flowers. Additionally, two irresistible local acts Laveda and The Sugar Hold will be kicking things off – it’s something Jeff takes a lot of pride in.
“Every band got their start locally somewhere,” he says. “If we don’t help bands get paid exposure, we’re not doing our part as a local, independent radio station. Not to mention, there’s a bunch of rad talent throughout EQX-land so we would have to be doofuses to not provide them with a stage to showcase their talents!”
For our second stop on the trek up the Northway, we’ll take exit 10 to arrive at SingleCut North in Clifton Park for their annual Oktoberfest celebration. The tap room will be marking the first official day of Fall with a free, family-friendly event featuring a plethora of seasonal activities including keg tossing, axe throwing, stein hoisting and more.
“It's so fun to showcase our unique spin on a tradition that Americans have kind of inherited,” Hospitality Director Teresa Campbell tells me. “[Oktoberfest] has been going on way longer than SingleCut has been around and we're sort of taking the reins for the day of something that is so tangentially tied to a region of the world. Here we are in upstate New York, just making it our own.”
As part of the celebration each year, the brewery also releases a new, seasonal märzen for patrons to enjoy. And just like their entire lineup of beers, this one has a clever, music-themed name.
“It’s called ‘Inexplicable Use of Umlaut’,” Teresa smirks. “It's sort of a tongue-in-cheek nod to bands such as Motörhead that use umlauts for no apparent reason. It has a rich, caramelly kind of flavor, but it’s light enough where, if you choose to have a few responsibly, it can be part of your day – or it doesn't have to be.”
We end our journey by traveling up to Saratoga Performing Arts Center for Farm Aid, the annual concert curated by Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp to raise awareness about the loss of family farms. Each year, the event features food from family farms, and of course world class musical talent gracing the stage. In addition to the curators themselves, this year’s lineup includes the likes of Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Mavis Staples, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and many more. For tickets and more information on the festival, the movement and the all-star slate of performers, visit https://www.farmaid.org/festival/.
Okay. We’ve made it up the Northway. The only thing left to do is get home safe, and with a smile on your face. Because you’ve just scored yourself the ultimate hat trick that is September 21st in the Capital Region. Congratulations. Go ahead and call out of work on Monday – we’ll even write ya a note.
