9/29/11: Today’s Tips: Thursday

FUNDRAISER/MUSIC: The Doornails @ the Valatie Community Theatre, Valatie. A special edition CD pre-release party for the roots band’s debut disc, “Back Porch Daze.” With the Nellies, Kevin Maul and other special guests. A benefit for the theater. 7:30pm.

MUSIC: Peter Karp & Sue Foley @ the Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs. With this somewhat unlikely match-up of singer-songwriter Karp and award-winning Canadian blues queen Foley (and their full band) sparks are sure to fly. Don’t miss it. With Michael Louis. 8pm. $20. Related story.

THEATER: “Birthday Boy” @ Berkshire Theatre Group’s Unicorn Theatre, Stockbridge. The re-opening of world premiere of Chris Newbound’s play directed by Wes Grantom. (Read review here.) 7pm.

MUSIC: Rinus Van Alebeek and Ezramo @ the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy. Internationally acclaimed electronic artists, composers and sound musicians team up for a concert that ranges from lo-fi to high-tech. 7pm. Donation.

ARTS WALK: DownStreet Art @ various locations, North Adams. It’s the final DownStreet Arts walk of the season featuring plenty of new exhibitions, performances, live music and special projects. Everything is free, open to the public and kid-friendly. 6-9pm. FREE. Related story.

FILM: onedotzero @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. “citystates 10” explores the city via an eclectic series of short filmic responses to urban environments and fast-paced city living. As we accelerate toward becoming nations of super-cities, this year’s festival selection presents and questions utopian desires, bringing a sense of adventure, hope and positivity about our shared future world. 7pm. $6.

FILM: onedotzero @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. “robotica” pays tribute to our mechanical friends of the future with a series of shorts films that explores the ethics, social effects and pure fun of a world shared with robots or androids, from spy messengers and declarations of love to extraterrestrial robotic invasions of earth. 9pm. $6.

READING: Banned Book ReadOut! @ the University Club, Albany. Banned Books Week celebrates the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship. In conjunction, the University Club of Albany Foundation and the New York Civil Liberties Union, Capital Region Chapter present a number of prominent community members reading brief excerpts from books that have been banned or challenged in America. Readers include activists Reszin Adams and Janet Womatchka; Classics professor Sylvia Barnard; Assemblymember John J. McEneny; musicians Tim Livingston and Bob Resnick; Albany Roundtable president Colleen Ryan, actor/critic James Yeara and many others. 6pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Lee Brice @ Vapor, Saratoga Springs. The Nashville hitmaker sings “Love Like Crazy,” his new single “Woman Like You” and more. With a pre-concert country dance at 7pm hosted by Kevin Richards. 9pm. $15.