5/18/12: Today’s Tips: Friday

MUSIC/FUNDRAISER: Michael Cooney @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. The marvelous one-man folk festival comes out of retirement to kick off Caffe Lena’s weekend-long 52nd anniversary celebration. Reception with hearty appetizers, desserts and soft drinks begins at 6:30pm; concert at 7:30pm. $52.

MUSIC/FUNDRAISER: Woodstock Day School Soundout/Bob Dylan Birthday Celebration @ the Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. Happy Traum hosts the third annual benefit for the Woodstock Day School, while celebrating the birthday of Woodstock’s most famous former resident. Featuring performances by Donald Fagen, Amy Helm, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Carl Newman, Don Byron, Aaron Freeman (of Ween), Mike + Ruthy, Doug Yoel, Zee Avi, Connor Kennedy, the WDS Upper School Rock Ensemble and more. 8pm. $20, $40, $100. UPDATE: $40 & $100 tix are sold out.

DANCE: Maude Baum & Company Dance Theatre @ eba Dance Theater, Albany. eba, Inc. began as an artist collective four decades ago, and it’s grown into a multi-faceted Nippertown arts organization. CEO and artistic director Maude Baum has been there from the beginning, and her dance ensemble will celebrate eba’s 40th anniversary this weekend with its Ruby Spring Salon Concert, featuring performances of 1982’s “Ennui,” 1984’s A Crack on the Ceiling… Had the Habit of Sometimes Looking Like a Rabbit” and 1993’s “Mother Ann, the Morning Star of the Shakers.” 7:30pm. $20.75; students & seniors $15.50. Also at 7:30pm on Saturday & Sunday.

MUSIC: Lost Radio Rounders’ Third Friday Charity Concert Series @ the Old Chapel at the Mckownville United Methodist Church, Albany. Tom Lindsay and Michael Eck will be joined by guitarist-vocalist Bobby Long and Greg Haymes (Ramblin Jug Stompers) for “The Gospel Train: Historic American Spiritual Music.” 7pm. FREE; donations accepted.

OPERA: “Oceanic Verses” @ MASS MoCA’s Hunter Center, North Adams. A work-in-progress presentation of Paola Prestini’s multimedia opera. 8pm. $15; students $10.

MUSIC: The Lucky Jukebox Brigade @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. The eclectic, rag-tag Bridgade celebrates the release of their debut CD, “Pretty Well Damned,” with their “album release ball.” Life Among the Trees also perform. Doors at 8pm. $5.

ART/FASHION: Electric City Couture Fashion Show @ Proctors, Schenectady. It’s the third annual fashion show, and it’s being held in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of Schenectady Art Night. YNN’s Marisa Jacques emcees, with music by DJ Ofi. Joleen Button and Katie Pray curated the show which features the designs of Jenn Dugan of Jen’s Creative Outlet, Christina Collins Clothing, Lakeshia Motley of KaNarri Designs, Jessyka Neitzel & Danielle Breicenbach, Kim Vanyo of Khymanyo Studios, Sarah Roberts & Christine Marshall, Van Demps, Jenny McShan. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Rancid @ Northern Lights, Clifton Park. With Brick by Brick, Murderers Row and Chosen Ones. 7:30pm. UPDATE: This show is officially sold out. UPDATE #2: Northern Lights has changed its name to the Upstate Concert Hall…

ARTS WALK: Art Night Schenectady @ various locations, Schenectady. ANS celebrates its fifth anniversary with a plethora of visual arts, music, a fashion show and more… 5pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Holly & Evan @ Cafe NOLA, Schenectady. 6:30pm.

MUSIC: Dryer @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. Bassist Rachael Sunday, drummer Joel Lilley and guitarist Bob Carlton are back in the saddle once again. With House Boat. 9pm. FREE.

FILM: “Wagner’s Dream” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Susan Froemke’s documentary captures the trials and tribulations as director Robert Lepage and the Metropolitan Opera take on the enormous challenge of staging opera’s most monumental work, Wagner’s Ring Cycle. 5:30pm. $10; students $4.50.

MUSIC: Start Making Sense @ Jillian’s, Albany. Talking Heads tribute band. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: Sam Moss @ the Spotty Dog Books & Ale, Hudson. In support of his new guitar-and-banjo EP, “Neighbors.” With Owen & His Checkered Past. 8pm. $5.

FILM: “Marley” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Academy Award-winning director Kevin Macdonald documents one of the most towering figures in musical history – the life story of Bob Marley, the musician, the revolutionary and the legend. 7:30pm. $7; students $5.

THEATER: “Black Tie” @ Steamer No. 10 Theater, Albany. Theater Voices presents a staged reading of A.R. Gurney’s comedy directed by Judy Spevack. 8pm. FREE. Through Sunday.

COMEDY: The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe @ the Spectrum Playhouse, Lee. RBIT teams up with special guest improv ensemble Jellyfish for an evening of improvisational comedy. 7:30pm. $12.

MUSIC: Petey Hop @ American Glory, Hudson. 8:30pm.

MUSIC: OUTPOST1 @ Jillian’s, Albany. It’s time once again for Albany’s monthly event dedicated to forward-thinking bass music. Tonight’s bash features Jillionaire (of Diplo’s Mad Decent label) and Dre Skull (producer and label owner of Mix Pak Records), in addition to regulars Party With Tina, Knomad and Looney. 11pm.

MUSIC: Empire State Youth Jazz Ensemble @ the College of Saint Rose’s Massry Center, Albany. With the Empire State Youth Repertory Jazz Ensemble. 7:30pm. $6.

MUSIC: The Jeanne O’Connor Trio @ Provence Restaurant, Albany. 7pm.

MUSIC: The Big Idea @ Pauly’s Hotel, Albany. Singer-guitarist Bert Pagano leads the band through an evening of R&B, jazzy funk and funky jazz. With special guest Al Quaglieri sittin’ in on keys in place of the recently departed Larry Pape. (No, he didn’t die; he just left town.) 9pm.

MUSIC: Mundo Nuevo @ Carmen’s Cafe, Troy. Latin music with a Cuban emphasis. 6 & 8pm. $5.

MUSIC: Changes in Latitude @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. Jimmy Buffett tribute band. 8pm. $22.