2/4/12: Today’s Tips: Saturday

MUSIC: Cedric Watson & Bijou Créole @ the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. Straight outta Louisiana, the multi-talented fiddler-singer-accordionist-songwriter and his soulful bayou band kick Mardi Gras season into high gear. 8pm. $20, $25, $30; students and children $15.

ART RECEPTION: Sanford Biggers @ MASS MoCA, North Adams. “The Cartographer’s Conundrum” is a major multi-disciplinary installation that explores Afrofuturism. 5:30pm. $8.

MUSIC: Frank Vignola @ the Eighth Step at Proctors, Schenectady. One of the great virtuoso jazz guitar swingsters. 7:30pm. $26.

MUSIC: Beaucoup Blue @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. The father-and-son duo serves up a vibrant vintage sound that melds the blues with folk, R&B, jazz, country and bluegrass. 8pm. $17.

MUSIC: TN4 @ 9 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Todd Nelson leads his instrumental quartet. 9pm.

DANCE: “Tethered: Vertical Performances” @ EMPAC at RPI, Troy. A pair of work-in-progress performances by artists-in-residence Rodrigo Pardo (“Flat” at 7pm) and Bárbara Foulkes (“Flota” at 8:30pm) that explore vertical rather than horizontal space. FREE.

MUSIC: Ernie Williams @ The Linda, Albany. Nippertown’s ambassador of the blues is back his band to celebrate another birthday – his 86th – with his family, his friends and fans. 8pm. $18.

MUSIC: The Paul Winter Consort @ the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington. The award-winning saxophonist, bandleader and composer explores the world’s musical traditions with his unique “earth music.” 8pm. $35, $55.

MUSIC: Tribute to Bob Marley @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. 28th Annual Woodstock Tribute to the king of reggae featuring Royal Khaoz, the Big Takeover and Royal Heart Sound with Culture DJ, Jeremiah and Otto Kentrol. 8pm. $20.

MUSIC: Blitz the Ambassador @ MCLA’s Venable Gymnasium, North Adams. Day Two of the seventh annual MCLA Blues & Funk Festival continues with the psychedelic Afrobeat of the Ghanaian-born, New York-based master of ceremonies, composer and producer. With the MCLA Jazz Band, the Alegrettos and the Smokey Wambas. 7:30pm. $10.

THEATER: “An Ignorant Man” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Presented by HRC Showcase Theatre, Barbara Waldinger directs a staged reading of the new, literate comedy by Richard Manley and starring Robert Meksin, which tells the story of a famous poet’s journey from intolerance and misanthropy to love and acceptance. 7:30pm. The reading is FREE; $12 suggested donation for reception with playwright and actors.

MUSIC: The Weasel Walter Trio @ the Spotty Dog, Hudson. With Nondor Nevai and C. Lavender. 8pm. $5.

MUSIC: The Big Idea @ Pauly’s Hotel, Albany. Led by vocalist-guitarist Bert Pagano. 9pm.

MUSIC: The Brian Patneaude Quartet @ Cooper’s Cave, Glens Falls. 9pm.

MUSIC: The Arch Stanton Quartet @ 74 State, Albany. 8pm.

MUSIC: The Tom Healey Band @ Graney’s Stout, Albany. 8:30pm.

MUSIC: Ten Year Vamp @ Jillian’s, Albany. 10pm.