PREVIEW: WEXT’s Local 518 Fest is Coming to Shake Up the Capital Region
7/26 @ Music Haven in Central Park, Schenectady
**This article originally appeared in our July 2025 issue.**
“It feels like the culmination of a lot of things, music and community being the pinnacle of it all.”
On Saturday, July 26, WEXT Radio is stepping off the airwaves and into the park. From 2 to 9:30 p.m., the inaugural Local 518 Fest will transform Music Haven in Schenectady’s Central Park into a living, breathing love letter to the Capital Region’s music scene with no ticket required.
“Free and open to the public, this event showcases what WEXT does best,” says Chris Wienk, WEXT’s afternoon host and program director. “It highlights our diverse and vibrant local music scene and brings the community together to enjoy it.”
But it’s more than a one-day show. For Wienk, it’s a full-circle moment. “We used to do a series of concerts called the Exit Dome Concerts—a big space, but it wasn’t the same energy. We’d hear from listeners who wanted to hear local bands but didn’t go to bars. Music Haven gave us a space that’s accessible to everyone. This concert will be free for everyone.”
The lineup is built for great music and great connections! Wild Adriatic, whose gritty soul-infused rock explodes live, and Sawyer Fredericks, the folk rock phenom who's been making waves since winning The Voice in 2015, will be co-headlining the festival.
Joining them: Canella, a hook-heavy indie rock band; Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter, blending fiddle, fire, and fierce storytelling; and Tops of Trees, the high-energy funk/soul group kicking the whole thing off.
“Back in 2007, when we started the station, we didn’t know how much local music was out there,” Wienk says. “Now we do, and these artists deserve more than a showcase; they deserve a real festival. Forty-five-minute sets. A stage. An audience. This is not just, ‘Oh, we’re helping.’ This is what we do.”
For the performers, it means everything.
“It feels like the culmination of a lot of things, music and community being the pinnacle of it all,” says Sara Milonovich. “The Capital Region has such an incredibly vibrant music and arts scene. I keep coming back and being blown away by how awesome and kickass the support is for local music. A lot of that goes to WEXT. They’ve been such cheerleaders for this community.”
Her band’s set will preview songs from an upcoming album and spotlight Northeast, a record that honors the stories and seasons of upstate life. “We have all the same human stories up here… we just have more snow.”
For Tops of Trees, the fest’s kickoff slot is a celebration in itself. “It means a ton to us,” says frontman Damian Ubriaco. “We believe in WEXT’s mission. It’s been very rich; I compare it to a farmers market, where you get your local music right from the community.”
Their set, like their name, is rooted in the outdoors. “Playing outdoors adds another element. I always pay attention to the natural surroundings. The sky, the trees, the wind, the clouds. When summer comes, there’s this sense of joy and happiness. You look to your neighbor and you’re like, ‘Yup, it’s summer.’”
The day will also feature food, drink, and craft vendors, with support from Mona Golub, Music Haven, Chet & Karen Opalka, and Gary & Amy Dake. And while the bands will take center stage, community is the real headliner.
“Whether we have five people, 500 people, or 2,000, that opening moment, when we introduce the first band, it’s going to feel so cool to be there,” Wienk says. “These artists don’t just make music for themselves. They want to make it for people.”
So come. Dance on the grass. Listen to something unexpected. Feel the joy. This is the Capital Region, amplified.