Staff Pick's: Albany, NY
Music Roadtrip
Certified: 🌟 Certified
Description: New York’s capital city has a creative undercurrent that surprises travelers—historic streets filled with bookstores, cafés, underground venues, and record shops that keep Albany’s arts scene humming year-round. This route leans into the city’s crate-digging charm and the people and places who help shape its soundtrack. Start at the Discover Albany Visitors Center, your introduction to the region’s history, culture, and ever-evolving music footprint. The team here can guide you toward neighborhood festivals, intimate venues, and the kinds of local haunts that rarely show up on generic travel lists. Once you’ve got the lay of the land, it’s time to go digging. Head to Lark Street Records in the city’s most eclectic district—a cozy shop packed with vinyl gems, cult classics, indie discoveries, and plenty of staff favorites that reflect Albany’s arts-forward personality. Just a short walk away, Last Vestige Music Shop keeps the tradition alive with deep bins, vintage finds, and one of the best selections of used vinyl in upstate New York. It’s the kind of store where collectors linger and the hunt becomes the highlight of the day. Round out your tour at John Keal Music Company, Inc., a longstanding community hub for musicians of all levels. From instruments and accessories to local knowledge and repair services, it’s a window into Albany’s working music community—one that’s supported students, performers, and professionals for decades.