Nipper’s News: Rocky Velvet, Frank Jaklitsch, Blue Factory, ZacGriffin…

Cropseyville’s favorite sons, Rocky Velvet, are mounting a one-night-only reunion for the first time since the Rockin’ to Rebuild Tess’ Lark Tavern benefit in Albany’s Washington Park a year and a half ago. The line-up for the revved-up Rocky Velvet rockabilly reunion will include guitarslinger Graham Tichy, vocalist Ian Carlton, drummer Jeff Michael and bassist Todd Bradley (on loan from Rochester’s Hi-Risers). Pauly’s Hotel in Albany is the place; 10pm on Friday (December 2) is the time. Admission is $8.

Frank Jaklitsch celebrates the release of his new holiday album, “One Small Child,” on Thursday (December 1) with a performance at the Irish Mist in Troy. Jaklitsch will be joined by the Mendelssohn Club, as well as Chris Gill, Amy Collins and Mike Roche. A benefit for the Vineyard Church in Cohoes, the performance begins at 7pm, and admission is a $10 donation.

Blue Factory has wrapped up the recorded their sophomore album, “Primates, Drunks & Cowboys,” with Barry Breckenridge once again handling the production chores. Look for an early 2012 release. You can catch a sneak preview of some of the new material when the band invades Valentine’s Music Hall in Albany on Friday (December 2) for a happy hour show beginning at 6:30pm.

Young ZacGriffin – a junior at Whitehall Central School – will be releasing his new album, “Louder,” on Saturday (December 3), the same day that he’s slated to tape a performance for an upcoming episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”