TROY — The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall’s free Summer Square series kicks off Saturday, July 8. Running through August 26 on Saturday evenings at 6 p.m., the series will be held in the Music Hall courtyard on 2nd Street.
“It’s a wide range of genres,” said Director of Marketing Ryan Murray about the lineup of artists. With a diverse range of talented musicians in jazz, indie, rock, folk, Irish, and Latin music, Murray highlighted the exciting ‘mix of many different things’.
“Every week is something a little bit different, which makes this a fun lineup because you’re not getting the same thing over and over again. If you want to attend each show, you’re seeing varying, unique artists,” he added.
The eight-week schedule kicks off on July 8 with the Dust Bowl Faeries’ distinctive faerie-tale combination of dark cabaret, post-punk, and gothic folk. With each show, the accordion-driven band provides an atmospheric, evocative performance.
Seeing the Albany Symphony Orchestra perform at Troy Music Hall sparked Bronte Roman’s interest in the venue and its concert events. “I loved the Music Hall from the moment I entered,” she said.
Through her interactions with Executive Director Jon Elbaum, Roman was inspired by the Summer Square series’ family-friendly, positive message. It struck a chord with Roman, who had performed at The Egg Theater to support the fundraiser to assist rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
At the Summer Square series, Roman will be accompanied by a four-piece band as she looks forward to ‘emphasizing the beauty of meeting each other through music’ at the Summer Square event.
On July 15, Bronte Roman will perform a wide spectrum of music featuring Latin, jazz, and pop-contemporary components. She intends for the Summer Square series to be a ‘culmination’ of her work, featuring classic songs from the Great American Songbook and shaping the program based on audience responses.
“I think as a performer, you need to make every performance an experience. Communicating with the audience and making sure they’re feeling great is crucial,” she said.
Carol Daggs, an accomplished vocalist and pianist, will give a distinctive performance on July 22. Attendees can enjoy her signature jazz compositions and arrangements under the stage name Jazzage. Julia Alsarraf’s deep, heartfelt songs will travel across a wide spectrum of genres on July 29, from contemporary folk to indie pop and rock.
Ida Mae Specker, a fiddler, folk singer, and composer, will present a signature fusion of original, contemporary, and traditional music on August 5. Returning performers Triskele will take the stage on August 12 to pay homage to the Capital Region’s Irish heritage while delivering authentic Irish music with current, traditional, and original songs.
“It’s really nice to connect with the audience outside,” Triskele band member Sharon Wheeler said, regarding the venue.
The band, which has been together since 2008, has a personal connection to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, recording their albums ‘Triskele Live’ and ‘The Collar City Uprising’ at the world-renowned hall. Triskele’s work reflects the Irish history of Troy, connecting their music to the iconic venue. “There’s so much rich culture here,” noted Wheeler.
At the Summer Square series, Wheeler promises that “the audience is going to get jokes, they’re going to have good, traditional sing-along Irish music, and also handcrafted songs that we’ve written, along with great harmonies.” She added, “I like to give stories behind the songs as well, to give people perspective and make it more meaningful.”
“There’s no admission; if you want to sit, eat, drink, or dance, you can do that!” said Wheeler. “You get a real feel for hanging out in the neighborhood, listening to real Irish music.”
Audiences can anticipate singer-songwriters Aiva and Hayley performing a blend of covers and original music on August 19. The Jeanne O’Connor Quartet will close out the series on August 26 by bringing Jeanne O’Connor’s expressive vocals to the genres of pop, Latin, and R&B music.
“We’re giving a showcase to people that we’ve already been able to have before, mixed with new people that we’re excited to have for the first time, like Bronte Roman, Ida Mae Specker, and Aiva and Hayley,” said Murray.
The Summer Square series is recent, stemming from a response to COVID-19. “It was established with the purpose of getting people to come out and experience Troy and the beautiful area by the courtyard,” said Roman. “It was a group effort to bring individuals out to appreciate art, life, beauty, music, and dining.”
“We enjoy doing it,” said Murray regarding the Summer Square series. “The community likes it and enjoys coming out. We often see repeated people coming out and bringing their families. We’re always talking about how music brings people together.”
“What makes this series special is all of the efforts, funding, drive, and concept to create an experience for everyone to be part of everywhere,” said Roman. “It’s an experience; the effort that they put together in selecting the musicians— the wonderful artists in the area— to highlight the talent that is in the Troy area and all around, makes it even more special.”