Music on the Lawn - Heard
Performers
Location
About
Music on the Lawn — Heard
September 16, 2026 — 5:00pm–7:00pm
Join us for Music on the Lawn, the Albany Institute's lively outdoor concert series. Enjoy great local music, free gallery admission, and a relaxed evening on the museum’s lawn.
The concert series is free and open to the public. Series dates: August 19, September 16, and October 21, all 5–7 PM. Music on the Lawn is cosponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and arranged by the Albany Musicians Association. Music on the Lawn is supported by M&T Bank.
Concerts are held rain or shine. In the event of rain, performances will move indoors—same time, same music. Grab dinner from a featured food truck each month, enjoy a cash bar, and stop by the Art Cart for a free hands-on activity inspired by the museum's collections. Bring your friends, a picnic blanket, or a lawn chair.
Limited parking is available in the museum lot at Dove and Elk Streets. Free street parking is available throughout the city after 5PM.
The September concert is presented in partnership with The City of Albany.
The City of Albany’s Office of Cultural Affairs presents Arts in the City, a weekly summer series promoting creativity and wellness through the arts. Highlights:
- Cost: Completely FREE to attend.
- Diverse programming: weekly sessions teaching music, dance, poetry, wellness, and visual arts.
- Dynamic settings: hosted at a rotation of unique locations throughout the City of Albany.
- Season schedule:
- July: 8, 15, 22, 29
- August: 5, 12, 19, 26
- September: 2, 9, 16, 23
- Arts in the City is sponsored by CDPHP and Albany Parking Authority.
- More details: albanyevents.org.
September features music by Heard! Get a preview of Heard before the concert—watch their performance on WMHT's AHA! A House for Arts.
Heard is a collective of musicians who blend world music, jazz, and improvisation to create grooves with influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and beyond. Together for over 16 years, their debut CD Karibu reached #15 on the WorldJazz charts; 2018's Flyway has also received critical acclaim. Heard is a six-time Eddy Music Awards nominee in the World Music category and 2026's Eddy Awards World Music Group of the Year.
Energetic & upbeat, Heard will open your ears & hearts, and get you up and dancing!
Core ensemble includes:
- Laura Andrea Léguia (woodwinds)
- Jonathan Greene (woodwinds)
- Bobby Kendall (bass)
- Brian Melick (drums)
- Zorkie Nelson (percussion/vocals)
- Felix Nelson (dance/vocals/percussion)
- Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius (keyboard/vocals)
Additional players often featured include bass players Jason Emmond, Jon Suters, and Evan Jagels; Steve Horowitz (trumpet/flugelhorn); Augustina Nelson (dance/percussion/vocals); Fofo Neequaye (dance/percussion/vocals); Matt Steckler and Adam Siegel (woodwinds).
Learn more at heardmusic.net.
September's featured food trucks are Roy's Caribbean and Kona Ice—plus a coffee pop-up by Station Six.
Roy's Caribbean serves Caribbean cuisine true to their Jamaican roots alongside American comfort favorites. For more information, visit royscaribbean.com.
Kona Ice is a shaved ice truck offering a variety of flavor combinations and a tropical vibe.
Station Six will be popping up on the front lawn with cold brew coffee, iced matcha lattes, and iced chai lattes. Find Station Six on Instagram.