5/13/11: Today’s Tips: Friday

MUSIC: Bear Grass @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. Katie Hammon (of Slender Shoulders) celebrates the release of her debut solo album, “In the Light,” a concept album about a family dealing with mental illness. Then she graduates from St. Rose the next day! With Ashley Pond and Matthew Carefully. 6pm. $5.

MUSIC: Clint Holmes @ Proctors, Schenectady. The year was 1973, and Clint Holmes’ hit single “Playground in My Mind,” was No. 2 on the Billboard charts, nestled between Paul McCartney (“My Love” at No. 1) and Elton John (“Daniel” at No. 3). Now 65 years old, the multi-talented, award-winning Las Vegas showman heads into the Electric City for a pair of concerts with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra to benefit Proctors and the symphony. With Susanna Gabbiano. 8pm. $10. Also at 2pm on Saturday.

MUSIC: “Katrina Ballads” @ Williams College’s Chapin Hall, Williamstown. Directed by Thomas Bergeron, the Opus Zero Band and I/O Ensemble perform Ted Hearne’s award-winning work for chamber orchestra, a jazz/rock rhythm section, four vocal soloists and choir. 8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Levon Helm Band @ Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown. Take a load off, Fanny. A fab anti-fracking fundraising concert. With Arlo Guthrie and the Horseshoe Lounge Playboys. 5pm. $45 in advance; $55 at the gate; VIP tix $90, $200.

MUSIC: John McCutcheon @ the Eighth Step at Proctors, Schenectady. The award-winning veteran singer-songwriter-storyteller-multi-instrumentalist makes musical magic. 7:30pm. $25.

THEATER: The O Solo Mama Mia Festival @ Storefront Artist Project, Pittsfield. “Performing Therapy” performed by Camilla Schade and “Stories of Hell and High Water.” 7:30pm. $25; students $15.

MUSIC: Hair of the Dog @ The Linda, Albany. Irish music and much, much more as bassist-vocalist Rick Bedrosian, guitarist-vocalist Mike DeAngelis, banjoist-guitarist-vocalist John Haggerty, fab fiddler Larry Packer, guitarist-mandolinist Eric Finn and drummer Scott Apicelli celebrate Hair of the Dog’s 18th anniversary. Plus a free Hair of the Dog pint glass with paid admission. 8pm. $18.

MUSIC: Shemekia Copeland @ Club Helsinki Hudson, Hudson. The second generation blues great wails with uncommon fierceness. With the marvelous Scrapomatic opening the show. 9pm. $25.

MUSIC: Wiley Dobbs @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. Led by twin brothers Jim & Rob McCuen (on bass and guitar, respectively), the homegrown bluegrass-jazz combo makes a rare return appearance in Nippertown. With the Caribbean and John Rice & Courtney Blackwell. 8pm.

MUSIC: Old Blind Dogs @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. The supergroup captures the entire spectrum of the Scottish folk tradition, sometimes fusing it with African rhythms, too. And this is one of the few nights when you might actually hear an AC/DC song at Caffe Lena. 8pm. $22 in advance; $24 at the door.

THEATER: “Carousel” @ Schenectady Light Opera Company, Schenectady. “June is bustin’ out all over…” Directed by Joe Philips. 8pm. $18, $22, $28. Through May 22.

MUSIC: Alexander Turnquist @ the Hudson Opera House, Hudson. Celebrating the release of his brand new album, “Hallway of Mirrors,” on VHF Records. With Nils Frahm & Greg Haines. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: Hudson Valley Songfest 6 New Artists Showcase @ the Wonderbar & Bistro, Hudson. Ten musical acts compete to kick off the fest. 7:30pm. $10.

MUSIC: Rhett Tyler @ Fuller Roadhouse Grille, Colonie. It’s a benefit concert for the Capital Region Blues Network. With the Tom Healey Band featuring Matt Mirabile and the Michael Louis Band. 8pm. $10.

MUSIC: The Rodeo Barons @ Max Loudon’s, Saratoga Springs. Fresh from the Albany Tulip Fest, Chris Carey leads the band into Max’s. 10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Folding Sky @ Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Troy. Some mighty blues-rockin’. 10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Living With Lions @ Beukendaal Masonic Temple, Scotia. Vancouver punk quintet roars into Nippertown in celebration of the release of their sophomore album, “Holy Shit.” With Such Gold. 6:30pm.

MUSIC: American Babies @ Red Square, Albany. Tom Hamilton leads the Americana-leaning rockers as they showcase their brand new album, “Flawed Logic.” Turbine opens the show. 9pm. $10 in advance; $12 at the door.

THEATER: “Side Show” @ the Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, Albany. Thomas Dalton Bambury directs this musical about Daisy and Violet Hilton (portrayed by Heather D’Arcy and Catherine Seeley), conjoined twins who make the transition from side show freak act to infamous stage performers in the 1930s. 8pm. $15. Through Sunday, May 22

MUSIC: The Lee Shaw Trio @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. Sublime piano jazz threesome. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Lucky Jukebox Brigade @ the Hudson River Coffee House, Albany. With Leather Jewels and Life Among Trees. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Union College Jazz Ensemble and Camerata Singers @ Union College’s Memorial Chapel, Schenectady. Tim Olsen conducts contemporary instrumental and vocal jazz classics. 8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Ten Year Vamp @ Jillian’s, Albany. Women are doin’ it for themselves… With Emeralds of July, Kristen Capolino and Chelsea Cavanaugh. 8pm. $5.