6/18/11: Today’s Tips: Saturday

FESTIVAL/MUSIC/ART: The River Street Festival @ Monument Square, Troy. The day-long outdoor festival in downtown Troy features two stages of free music including such main stage acts as Los Straitjackets, Blotto, the Neanderthals and the Graham Tichy Project. Go here for a complete music schedule. 11-6pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The DownTown Ensemble’s “Mostly Words” @ the Brick Elephant, Valley Falls. David Garland performs three new songs from his forthcoming album, “Conversations with the Cinnamon Skeleton.” Also performances by Bill Hellermann of sound/text pieces by Robert Ashley, Daniel Goode, Richard Kostelanetz, Jackson MacLow and Anne Tardos. Featured performers include such downtown stalwarts as Peter Zummo, Alex Waterman, Andrew Bolotowsky and Daniel Goode. 3pm. Admission by donation.

FESTIVAL/MUSIC/ENVIRONMENTAL: Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival @ Croton Point Park, Croton-On-Hudson. The first of the two-day fest features Pete Seeger, the Felice Brothers, Billy Bragg, the Low Anthem, David Bromberg, Martin Sexton and lots more. Go here for more info. 11am-8:30pm. $85.

MUSIC: Interstate @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park. A one-night-only reunion of guitarslinger Matt Smith and his mighty southern rock bandmates. 8pm. $12.

MUSIC: Sugar Proof @ Red Square, Albany. The Troy-based funk ‘n’ jam band unleashes their full-length debut CD, “Oxygen,” with a CD release party. With the High Peaks Band, Ghost Zapper, Dutch Masterson’s Visual Projection and PMT. The first 100 paid admissions through the door will receive a free copy of the disc. 8pm.

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: Dot & Johnstock @ the Stony Creek Inn, Stony Creek. The annual fundraising fest for Cindy’s Cancer Retreat and the Southern Adirondack Musicians Fund featuring performances by Mark Emanatian, John Kribs, the Bluebillies, Arlin Greene, Tim Wechgalear and others. 1-5pm.

MUSIC: Bobby Sweet @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. The Berkshires-based singer-songwriter celebrates the release of his sixth solo album, “Cowboys and Poets.” The veteran country-folk-tinged songsmith will be backed by the BSweet Band featuring pedal steel guitarist Pete Adams, drummer Rick Leab, bassist Bruce Mandel and keyboardist Abe Guthrie. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: “Out Loud and Proud” @ the College of St. Rose’s Massry Center, Albany. A joyous concert celebration by the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus. 7:30pm. $10; students $7; under 12 free.

MUSIC: Roots Revival Variety Show @ Hudson River Music Hall, Hudson Falls. Comedian-emcee Steve Smoller hosts a revue featuring Linda Fayte, Dan Johnson & His Expert Sidemen, the Dry Town Drifters, Holly & Evan and the Lazy Suns. 6pm. $8; kids 12 and under free.

FESTIVAL: Upper Union Street Strawberry Fest & Arts Show @ Union St., Schenectady. Enjoy lots of artwork, lots and lots of strawberries and music by Doc Spring’s Rehabilitated Dixieland Band, George’s Blues Band, Filming Ohio, the Time Benders, Chelsea Cavanaugh, Leslie Maiello and Erin Powers. 10am-3pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Garland Jeffreys @ the Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton. 7pm. He met Lou Reed in college before the Velvet Underground formed. He played guitar on John Cale’s 1969 debut solo album Vintage Violence. (A closet classic if ever there was one.) In 1966, Jeffreys began to play in Manhattan where he explored racially conscious themes, sometimes utilizing blackface masks and a rag doll named Ramon. Once, at Shea Stadium, Jeffreys was enjoying the game and feeling carefree. He stood to go get a hotdog when a voice shouted “Hey buckwheat, sit down!” The casual epithet was a jolt and it spurred a number of memorable songs including “Don’t Call Me Buckwheat.” We could go on and on about Garland, but not here. 7pm. $25.

CABARET: Hudson Pride Cabaret Party @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. Featuring NYCSubwayGirl, Ivanna Douche, Penny Larcency, Isis Vermouth, Hedda Lettuce, the Drag Kings, PrePhab, Charmed & Dangerous and more. 5-10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Sheer Terror @ Bogie’s, Albany. Veteran hardcore headbangers. With Murderers’ Row, Bulldog Courage, Black John Wayne, Setback and Unforgiven. $16 in advance; $20 at the door.

THEATER: “Words & Music” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Video and 8mm film are utilized in a new performance piece incorporating texts by Linda Mussmann and songs by Claudia Bruce over the past two decades. 7:30pm. $10.

MUSIC: The Backburners @ Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Troy. 10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Michael Buble @ the Times Union Center, Albany. 8pm. $52.50, $68, $92.50.

ART EXHIBIT: “Art Attitudes” @ the Round Lake Auditorium, Round Lake. It’s the final day of the Malta League of Arts’ weekend-long exhibition featuring the work of collagist-photographer Robert Gullie, as well as Gregory Montgomery, David Arsenault, Leah Stein, Dahl Taylor and more. 11am-2pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Run Mountain @ the Dream Away Lodge, Beckett. Old-timey Americana roots trio featuring fiddler Jim Burns, guitarist and banjo-uke player Paula Bradley and banjoist-harmonicat Bill Dillof. 8:30pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Spampinato Brothers @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. Joey & Johnny Spampinato were one-half of NRBQ – the old NRBQ. With the Willie Amrod Band. 9pm. $20 in advance; $25 at the door.

FESTIVAL: Saratoga Brewfest @ Ellms Family Farm, Ballston Spa. Sample more than 100 different beers from dozens of craft breweries. Music by Tribal Revival and the Rodeo Barons. VIP session from 1:30-3pm. General admission from 3-7pm. $50.

BURLESQUE: S.P.A.M.. @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. Scooter Pie hosts her monthly late night shindig of music and mischief. 12midnight. $5.

MUSIC: Roy Hurd @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. After last year’s devastating fire, which completely destroyed his home and all of his belongings, Roy “Poncho” Hurd is back making music once again. 8pm. $17.

MUSIC: The Arch Stanton Quartet @ 74 State, Albany. It’s jazz, man! 8pm.

FILM: “The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Leanne Pooley’s documentary offers a close-up portrait of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand’s social landscape. 5:30pm. $7; students $5. Through Sunday, June 26.