7/19/12: Today’s Tips: Thursday

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival @ Walsh Farm, Oak Hill. It’s Day One of the four-day fest. Today’s line-up features the David Bromberg Band, the Infamous Stringdusters, the Hillbenders, Chris Thile & Mike Davies, Blue Highway, Monroeville, John Kirk & Trish Miller, more… Music starts at 12noon.

MUSIC: Buckwheat Zydeco @ Riverfront Park, Albany. It’s Alive at Five with Grammy Award-winning accordionist-keyboardist-vocalist Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Jr. and his swamp-soaked band churning out their highly danceable mash-up of R&B and zydeco sounds. With Captain Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers. 5pm. FREE.

THEATER: “Far From Heaven” @ Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown. It’s opening night of the “preview production” of the new musical based on Todd Haynes’ 2002 period melodrama film. from the production team that brought “Grey Gardens” to Broadway. 7:30pm. $65.

ARTIST TALK: Greg Montgomery @ the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs. Montgomery has created the official poster for the Travers each year since 1986. 7pm. FREE.

DANCE: New York City Ballet @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs. Featuring Jeu de Cartes (Stravinsky/Martins), The Waltz Project (Martins) and Brahms-Schoenberg (Brahms orch. by Schoenberg/Balanchine). 2pm.

FILM: “Elena” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev’s gripping, modern twist of the classic film noir thriller as the winner of Cannes’ Special Jury Prize. With music by Philip Glass. 7:30pm. $7; students $5.

MUSIC: Matisyahu @ the Upstate Concert Hall, Clifton Park. The former Hasidic reggae star celebrates the release of his new album, “Spark Seeker.” On a double-bill with the Dirty Heads. 8pm. $28.

MUSIC: The Keith Pray Quintete @ Jay Street, Schenectady. Soak up some hot jazz along with your lunch. 12noon. FREE.

DANCE: New York City Ballet @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs. Featuring Romeo & Juliet (Prokofiev/Martins). 8pm.

MUSIC: Noam Pikelny & Friends @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The fab banjo-man of the Punch Brothers leads an all-star combo featuring vocalist Aoife O’Donovan, guitarist Chris Eldridge, fiddler Luke Bulla, mandolinist Dominick Leslie and bassist Sam Grisman. 8pm. $22.

MUSIC: Richard Thompson @ Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. The magnificent Thompson is certainly worth the price of admission all by himself, but this time he brings along son Teddy Thompson, Martin Simpson, Happy Traum and Sloan Wainwright. Wow! 8pm. $25, $35, $55. UPDATE: This show is sold out.

ARTS WALK: Third Thursdays @ various locations, Pittsfield. 5-8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Kim & Clyde @ Waterford Public Library, Waterford. Ex Tern Rounder Kim Kilby teams up for an evening of crackling country harmonies with Steven “Cousin” Clyde of Ramblin Jug Stompers. With Matt Durfee. 6pm. FREE.

FILM: “Elles” @ Time + Space Limited, Hudson. Director Malgoska Szumowska’s provocative exploration of female sexuality, starring the fearless Juliette Binoche as Anne, a well-off Parisian journalist investigating the lives of two student prostitutes (Joanna Kulig and Anaïs Demoustier) for a magazine article. 5:30pm. $7; students $5.

MUSIC: This Way @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. With the Union Street Preservation Society. 9pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Musicians of the NYC Ballet Orchestra @ the Saratoga Arts Center, Saratoga Springs. Musical director Luellen Abdoo leads the ensemble in another noon-time chamber music benefit concert. $5. $5.

MUSIC: John Brodeur @ the Dream Away Lodge, Becket. 8pm. FREE.

READING: Ann Beattie @ Skidmore College’s Davis Auditorium, Saratoga Springs. The NYS Summer Writers Institute reading series continues. With Peg Boyers. 8pm. FREE.

MUSIC: Across the Pond @ Guilderland Performing Arts Center, Guilderland. Beatles tribute band. 7:30pm. FREE.

READING: Third Thursday Poetry Reading @ the Social Justice Center, Albany. Local poet & Nitty Gritty Slam coach Mojavi will read as the featured poet. Open mic sign-up at 7pm; reading at 7:30pm. Hosted by Dan Wilcox. $3.

MUSIC: Funk Evolution @ North Pearl Street, Albany. 8pm. Post-Alive at Five street party. 8pm.

MUSIC: Peg Delaney @ the Stockade Inn, Schenectady. 7pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Matthew Maguire Quintet @ the Orchard, Albany. 7:30pm. FREE.