The creative team who brought the Bacchanalia Arts & Music Festival (BAMF) has begun their newest initiative “Powered by BAMF,” which aims to establish downtown Troy as the Capital Region’s cultural hub for music and the arts.
Their inaugural concert series, “Tiny Van on 4th,” is already under way, with 4 straight Saturdays of live entertainment and vendors having begun last weekend (Sept. 20) and continuing on Sept. 27, and Oct. 4 & 11.
Each Saturday’s “Tiny Van on 4th” show takes place at the No Name Cannabis lot, positioned perfectly at the lively intersection of Troy’s 4th Street and Congress (137 4th St). Every weekend, the Bacchanalia team is aspiring to carefully select not only musical acts, but also local vendors that properly represent the entrepreneurial spirit of Troy as a city.
If you’re unfamiliar, the Bacchanalia Arts & Music Festival has, since 2022, been known as one of the most groundbreaking music festivals to hit Upstate New York. The first event, just 3 years ago, already made an impact with nearly 150 performers across 3 days, accompanied by food pop-ups, retail vendors, and live art installations lining the downtown districts of Troy. The second edition of the festival is slotted for next summer (2026).
The first event this past Saturday, September 20, set a high precedent with an energizing performance by rising DJ Rome Thrasher. This upcoming weekend, on September 27, the fun will continue when local band Stroma performs alongside special guest Matt Malone.
The Tiny Van Mobile Stage, which the artists all perform on, is cutting-edge technology: this mobile micro-venue system most recently caught audience’s attention at the 2025 Bonnaroo Festival, when it brought unparalleled sound quality and staging to a more intimate, grassroots context.
On top of the “Tiny Van on 4th” series, BAMF will also be expanding with their new Bacchanalia Lil Studio, opening on 4th street in downtown Troy. Here, BAMF hopes to produce a series of BAMF Sessions, inspired by the intimate atmosphere of NPR’s acclaimed Tiny Desk Concerts. Beyond these sessions, the studio also plans to host recording sessions with both rising local talents and established national artists, including same day, “pop-up” recording opportunities for Capital Region musicians. Through all these ventures, BAMF aims to capture the Troy music scene and cultural renaissance in its most authentic form.
Performers will continue to be announced as the final two weekends draw closer. For the latest updates, be sure to follow @bamf.party on Instagram or visit their website here.
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