Troy’s burgeoning music scene is about to add another live music venue to its roster. Joining Collar City performance spaces like the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and Hangar on the Hudson will be the three-month-old events space, Hudson Candy Factory, which up until this month has been exclusively hosting weddings, birthdays and graduation parties.
Beginning on July 23, the space will kick off its run as a live venue with a burlesque show, featuring burlesque artists Harley Foxx, Pearl Buttons, Tachy Cardia and Noelle Reign; and on July 30, will host local powerhouse rocker Girl Blue and her band (you might remember Girl Blue from a mid-pandemic team-up with our sister publication Saratoga Living at Caffè Lena).
“We hope to transition into more music and unique shows in the future,” says the venue’s Michael Wistuk. “Our goal is to showcase unique and upcoming talent, not your everyday cover band.” Wistuk says that it has proven difficult, at least out of the gate, to book shows at the space, because it hasn’t been able to find a dedicated talent buyer. Despite that fact, Wistuk wants to emphasize that the Hudson Candy Factory will be open to all types of acts, not just, say, jam bands or indie bands. For example, the venue has booked an upcoming show with a doo-wop group from California, to add to its already wildly eclectic first two shows.
For those unfamiliar with the space, it is located at 161 River Street and housed in a building that dates from 1798, which first served as a pharmacy and then a candy warehouse, hence its name. Its new owners have restored the 6,000-square-foot spot into a mixed-use entertainment venue, which includes two bars and a large stage.
