Blog

Phish in Albany: A Benefit for Divided Sky Foundation

October 15, 2024 - By Sasha Sav

Blog Graphics Template.jpg

Phish returns to the stage from October 25-27 for a 3-night fall run to benefit the Divided Sky Foundation. These will be the band's only shows this fall and fans from all over the country are coming out for a good cause.

See Available Tickets for Phish Albany

The benefit shows will be at MVP Arena in Albany, NY - a familiar venue to Phish fans, albeit one that has gone by many names over the years. They first played here back when it was called the Knickerbocker Arena on 12/9/1995.

When it was called Pepsi Arena, Phish played there every fall from 97 to 2000 and again in 2003. Another name change saw the venue become the Times Union Center, which hosted 2-night Phish runs in 2009 and 2018.

While the name has changed several times, the band has constantly delivered here. From the Beavis & Butthead doll in the vocal jam of YEM from '95 to the Curveball redemption run of 2018, Phish loves to throw it down here.

This will be the first-ever 3-night run in Albany, a city Phish first played in 1989 at Pauly's Hotel. All of the shows are sold out, but you can snag tickets for face value from another fan on CashorTrade.

See Available Tickets for Phish Albany

For this run, 100% of the proceeds from tickets and merch will be going directly to the Divided Sky Foundation and its Residential Recovery program in Ludlow, VT. Founded by Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, the program gives hope to those struggling with addiction by providing a safe, nurturing environment to begin their recovery journey.

Here's what Trey has to say about the recovery program at Divided Sky Foundation:

As a person in recovery, I understand how valuable it is to individuals in early sobriety to have access to an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive community where they can begin to build a solid foundation for their new sober lives. At the Divided Sky Residential Recovery Program, our mission is to deliver supportive and compassionate programming with dignity and respect for individuals and their families affected by addiction. We do this by offering a safe environment for men and women to build the foundation necessary to live a productive, healthy, and sober life.

The money raised from tickets and merchandise will help keep the program affordable to all, with partial scholarships available for those in need. If you can't make it to the shows, you can still show your support by donating directly to the Divided Sky Foundation on their website.

If you're headed to Albany, make sure you check out PhanArt on Saturday, 10/26 at the Palace Theatre. This edition of PhanArt will host artists and vendors offering a great deal of art, clothing, home goods, music-inspired memorabilia, and much more from dozens of small businesses.

They are also hosting a Health and Wellness fair where attendees will find reiki, aerial yoga, interactive art, healing circles, psychedelic integration, and much more. All this plus live music from Kale and Sweeping Views!

If there's anything better than being at a Phish show, it's being at a Phish show that's for a great cause. We'll see you out there for yet another amazing fall run in Albany!