Live Music & More in the Capital Region

⭐️ 🖼️ First Friday Albany | Now curated by Metroland, the city’s monthly celebration of arts and music returns this week. Two highlights: The opening reception for Opalka Gallery’s PhotoRegional Exhibition, which features artists working within 100 miles of Albany; and the Albany Institute of History & Art’s opening reception for “From the Hudson to the Nile: Dows Dunham and the Archaeology of Egypt and Sudan.” Fri, mostly free events.

⭐️ 🥾 4th Annual Ruck March | Even if you don’t load up a backpack with pounds of canned food and complete the 6.8-mile trek, the Ruck March in Voorheesville is a community-driven affair with a fun finishers’ reception at Northern Barrell. The fundraiser benefits three nonprofits that support vets and first responders. Read our story on the event here. Sat, kicks off at 1:30p. $30 per participant.

⭐️ 🍸️ Drink Albany 2025 | Hosted by the Capital Craft Beverage Trail, this popup craft beverage market and tasting event celebrates the best local breweries and spirit makers in the Capital Region. New this year, the event takes place at the Albany Armory where adult games will be set up among the tasting tables. Sat, 6–9p. Tix: $42.33 for general admission, $76.91 for VIP; and $7.75 for designated drivers.

⭐️ ⛪️ Built 2025 | Historic Albany Foundation puts on a weekend celebrating the art, artists and architecture of the Capital Region. Activities include the annual art exhibit and auction, a cocktail reception, and the Holiday Shop. In keeping with HAF’s effort to highlight the ongoing issue of urban churches being vacated, HAF will be holding the event at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood. Various times, Thur-Sun. Cocktail reception on Sat, 6–9 pm. Tix: Free–$150.

⭐️ 👩‍🎨 Open Studios at Upstairs Arts Collective | This evening will be a rare opportunity to meet the 20 artists in the building, tour their studios, see the artwork, collaborate on interactive art-making activities, and purchase an array of affordable art. The night will also feature two pop-up events: At 7:30 pm, a drag show hosted by painter Robyn Hemlock. And at 8 pm, in poet/collage artist Matthew Klane’s studio, will be a special edition of the monthly poetry and performance series Salon Salvage (featuring poetry, nonfiction, and music, from both regional and national artists).

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Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!