The festival features a variety of local musicians performing in the city’s downtown streets both Friday and Saturday nights from 7-11 p.m. This year’s festival has a great array of bands that include blues, rock, folk, barbershop and jazz.

“We have people from far and wide that come to this event,” Susan Farnsworth, Festival Coordinator, said. “We have very high standards for the music that is chosen. In this economy, with gas prices where they are, it is great that we can present nine different musical groups free to the public, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.”

So if you’re in Saratoga celebrating the opening week of racing, be sure to head downtown to check out some of the great bands and businesses that the city has to offer. For more information, visit: www.saratoga.org/specials-hats-off. 

Locations and Bands include:

1. Saratoga Springs City Center

Bluz House Rockers (Sat. only)

2008 is Bluz House Rockers 12th year together. The only area band to perform four times at Albany’s 15,000-seat Times Union Center, BHR music is a mix of hand-selected classic rock, blues and funk. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes!

Set times: 7-8 p.m., 8:20-9:30 p.m., 9:50-11 p.m.

2. Collamer Building Parking Lot - Captain Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers

This area’s pre-eminent hot-and-spicy gumbo practitioners of “bayou bop” complete with Louisiana accordion, washboards and authentic patois from the land of King Creole.

Set times: 7-7:45 p.m., 8-8:45 p.m., 9-10 p.m., 10:20-11 p.m.

3. Post Office

Sirsy

Since SIRSY’s incarnation in the spring of 2000, they have accrued an enormous list of accomplishments that would seem impossible for an unsigned band. Playing over 250 shows per year, they’ve shared the stage with Maroon 5, Collective Soul, Lifehouse, Cheap Trick, Blues Traveler, Third Eye Blind, and more! Hailed by the Boston Globe, New York City’s Village Voice, and countless others, SIRSY is said to “stir the soul even more when you see them live than on their critically acclaimed recordings.” Perhaps this explains their large and devoted cult following.

Set times: 7-8 p.m., 8:15-9 p.m., 9:15-10 p.m., 10:15-11 p.m.

4. Adirondack Trust Co.

Rebecca Jean Smith

Rebecca Jean Smith has a new album of shadowy tales, Ode to the Ghost Rose. Some people call it Americana voodoo, others like tonky funk, but there is no doubt that her music is nothing short of trial by fire.

Set times: 7:15-8:15 p.m., 8:30-9:30 p.m., 9:45-11 p.m.

5. Caroline Street

Slick Fitty

50's & 60's cover songs, 50's & 60's inspired originals,“Hot Rodded,” for all generations to enjoy.Music of yesterday with an awesome modern sound.

Set times: 7-8:30 p.m., 9:30-11 p.m.

6. Lillian's Parking Lot

Sarah Pednotti & Band

Sarah Pedinotti was raised in the countryside of Upstate New York, one of seven in a family of artists. She was inspired at an early age to write music on her parents’ out-of-tune upright piano.  In 1996, her parents started a jazz bistro in downtown Saratoga Springs called One Caroline Street.  Sarah claims the bistro is "like a third parent.”  On summer nights, as a kid, she would stay up late, bus tables and listen to the live music.  She was 12 years old when she first started to sit in with the jazz bands that performed there nightly. In 2003 and 2005, Billboard Magazine editor Thom Duffy, who described Pedinotti as “a talented young singer/ songwriter on the rise,” respectively listed her albums “You Go To My Head” and “One Mirror” as top ten best new albums of the year. Set times: 7-7:45 p.m., 8:05-9:10 p.m., 9:45-11 p.m.

7. Division Street

Sensemaya (Fri. only)

Sensemaya fuses hot Latin dance rhythms with the cool sophistication of jazz improvisation. Their repertoire includes funkified interpretations of classic salsa to originals written in the revolutionary timba style of Cuba.

Set times: 7:15-8:15 p.m., 8:30-9:30 p.m., 10-11 p.m.

8. Eddie Bauer

Racing City Chorus (Fri. only)

They are the ambassadors of a-capella;” Saratoga's own long-time favorite

all-male vocal group with Barbershop style.

Start times: 7, 8, 9 p.m.

9. Ben & Jerry's

Tequila Mockingbirds

Award winning regional favorites, The Tequila Mockingbirds perform an elegant and eclectic mix of blues, jazz, bluegrass, Latin and rock. The duo's virtuosic performances often leave listeners breathless and demanding more!

Set times: 7-8 p.m., 8:15-9 p-.m., 9:15-10 p.m., 10:15-11 p.m.