Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the outdoor summer concert season for many of Upstate New York’s biggest venues, including CMAC, SPAC and the St. Joe’s Amp, as well as stages at Brewery Ommegang and Beak & Skiff apple orchard.
Tim McGraw will open the season for the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater in Syracuse. He performs Thursday, May 26 -- the first of 20 shows there this summer.
The orchard at Beak & Skiff will host Sylvan Esso (May 24), Lake Street Dive (May 27) and Primus (May 28) and it launches a summer packed with indie rock shows. The venue has steadily grown in recent years into one of the region’s premier concert venues.
Also in Central New York, Sterling Stage in Oswego County kicks off its outdoor music season with the New Era Festival, featuring four nights of music and camping starting Thursday, May 26. Garcia Peoples and Dogs in a Pile headline with multiple sets on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Across the state, other popular outdoor series also will get underway.
Modest Mouse performs at Artpark in Lewiston, near Buffalo on Friday, May 27. The Head & The Heart plays there the following night, May 28.
The Avett Brothers are doing two nights at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28.
The Who are playing Bethel Woods near Woodstock on Saturday, May 28. The Lumineers will be at CMAC on May 27 and at SPAC on May 29. And the holiday weekend closes with a Beatle: Ringo Starr plays CMAC in Canandaigua on Monday, May 30.
That’s just a sampling of the dozens of shows in upstate New York in the coming week. Check out our big list below for more concerts from this weekend and shows coming up the rest of the summer.