2/26/11: Today’s Tips: Saturday

CELEBRATION: Wizapalooza @ the Albany Irish Center, Albany. A celebration of the life of John Wisniewski, who passed away earlier this month. There will be a silent auction, a free buffet dinner, a 50/50 raffle and a parade of live music by Johnny Rabb & the Jailhouse Rockers with Commander Cody, John Tichy & Scotty Mac; the Franklin Micare Duo; the Stomplistics reunion, Burt Pagano & the Big Idea, Ramblin Jug Stompers, Cliff Lyons, the Erin Harkes Band, Dave Maswick, the Doc Scanlon Hot 4, Downtime reunion, Plus 24 reunion, more. 2-10pm. $20 suggested donation.

OPENING RECEPTION/MUSIC: “Turn Your Radio On” @ the Catskill Community Center, Catskill. A family friendly celebration of the official launch of community radio station WGXC (90.7 FM), featuring performances by Brian Dewan, Kyle Esposito, Deena Rae Turner, Pamela Pentony, Finley & Pagdon, the Olde Tyme Love Machine, Rob Hervey, C.B. Smith & the Lucky Devils and many others. Stop by and see them live or listen live on the radio. 2-6pm. FREE.

ART RECEPTIONS/DANCE PARTY: “Masters on Main Street” @ various locations on Main Street, Catskill. This unique vacant storefront pop-up gallery project offers 10 contemporary original exhibitions from students and recent alumni of studio art programs from the School of Visual Arts, SUNY New Paltz, Bard College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Vassar College. 5-7pm. FREE. Followed by a dance party at Brik Gallery, Catskill. 7-9pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Les Percussions de Strasbourg @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. The classically trained percussion ensemble performs Gerard Grisey’s “Le Noir de l’Étoile,” surrounding the audience at a half dozen different stations, armed with an arsenal of more than 400 instruments. Their live performance is mixed with radio signals emitted by two pulsars from a distant place deep in the universe. 8pm. $15; seniors and students $10.

TALK: “The Harmony of the Spheres, from Antiquity to Contemporary Music” @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. A lecture by French astrophysicist and research director for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Jean-Pierre Luminet, who is also a novelist and poet. 6:30pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Tannahill Weavers @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. One of Scotland’s premier traditional music bands arrive in support of their latest album, “Live and in Session,” a combined live and studio album on Compass Records. 8pm. $22 in advance; $24 at the door.

MUSIC: The Travelin’ McCourys @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. One of the best bluegrass bands in the world, featuring mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo man Rob McCoury, fiddler Jason Carter and bassist Alan Bartram. 8pm. $25.

MUSIC: Harold Ford & the Cash Band @ The Egg, Albany. Celebrating today’s 79th anniversary of the birth of the great American musicmaker Johnny Cash, tribute artist Harold Ford and his all-star band rumble through the long and glorious song catalog of the Man in Black. With Laura Lucy singing the role of June Carter Cash. 8pm. $28.

OPERA ON FILM: “Iphigénie en Tauride” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, Gluck’s opera is conducted by Patrick Summers and directed by Stephen Wadsworth. Starring Susan Graham and Plácido Domingo. 1pm. $25; children 13 and under $15. Also at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown ($25; students $18); the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington ($25; seniors $23; under 13 $18)

MUSIC: The Double Knots @ the Ale House, Troy. The debut of a new roots rockin’ alt-country combo featuring guitarist Marc Clayton (formerly of Tern Rounders), as well as vocalist Rob Moore, guitarist Charlie Morris, bassist Mike Persico, drummer Nick Parslow and pedal steel player Rick Morse. 9 pm.

MUSIC: “Keys for Kids” @ The Linda, Albany. Urban folk-jazz singer-songwriter KJ Denehert headlines the third annual concert for Capital Region Keys for Kids, a local free non-profit program that teaches youth to play music. Jazz combo the Arch Stanton Quartet (with special guest keyboardist Tim Olsen) also performs. 7pm. $20.

THEATER: “Ain’t I A Woman: The Story of Sojourner Truth” @ The Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge. Actress Debra Zuill portrays this famous civil rights leader, evangelist and abolitionist in a one-woman performance that brings history to bear on issues of racial prejudice and women’s rights. 5pm. $10; youth 18 and under $6.

MUSIC: Jim Gaudet and Nancy Walker @ Crystal Ristorante, Amsterdam. Two fab singer-songwriters share the bill to play a fundraiser for the Riverlink Park summer concert series. 7:30pm. $15.

MUSIC: The Kane Brothers Blues Band @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. Buzz-worthy blues from Anthony and Jonathan Kane (on vocals and drums respectively), as well as guitarist Josh Colow and bassist Ray Ploutz. With the Connor Kennedy Band. 9pm. $15.

MUSIC: Acoustic Showcase @ Uno Chicago Grill, Queensbury. Jason Irwin hosts unplugged sets by the Realside and Haggle for Haggis. 7pm. FREE.