11/30/13: Today’s Tips: Saturday

FESTIVAL/MUSIC: The No Pepper Fest @ Valentine’s Music Hall, Albany. 1 big headbanging bash. 2 stages. 6 hours. 11 bands. $10. Featuring Arctic (6pm), Tentacles (6:30pm), Legit (7pm), Vessels (7:30pm), Bad Friends (8pm), Planet Eater (8:30pm), Start the Reactor (9pm), Maggot Brain (9:30pm), Hush (10pm), Surrounded by Teeth (10:30pm) and Born Low (11pm).

MUSIC: Eileen Ivers @ the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy. The fab Celtic fiddle virtuoso and her firey band kick off their annual “An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas” tour with dancers from Green Island’s Boland School of Irish Dance and singers from Schenectady’s Chancel Choirs from First Reform and Union Presbyterian Church and Friends. 7:30pm. $20, $28 & $36.

MUSIC: Annie & the Hedonists @ Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs. One of the most eclectic – and majorly talented – combos in all of Nippertown, the husband and wife team of Annie & Jon Rosen lead their multi-talented band (also featuring Peter Davis and Don Young) through a wide-ranging repertoire of bluegrass, gospel, jazz, folk, swing and beyond. 8pm. $16 in advance; $18 at the door.

MUSIC: Nellie McKay @ Club Helsinki, Hudson. The cabaret/alt-popster brings her uniquely eccentric blend of pop, rock, jazz and hip-hop to town. Her most recent album, Home Sweet Mobile Home, continues the musical wanderlust, lyrical playfulness and unique point of view that has characterized her music since her 2-CD debut Get Away From Me was released nearly a decade ago. 9pm. $30.

MUSIC: Gusto @ Javier’s, Saratoga Springs. It’s a CD release party for the band’s debut album, Packin Heat. With Party Boat and the Dakota Badlands. 10pm. $5.

MUSIC: The Sunny Side of the Street Band @ NaNola, Malta. It’s the grand opening of Shane Spillenger’s (ex-Jillian’s) new restaurant/bar. 4pm fundraiser for the Estherville Animal Shelter. 7pm music. GO HERE for more info…

MUSIC: Tony DeSare @ the Wood Theater, Glens Falls. The jazz-pop singer-songwriter-pianist (and Hudson Falls native) serves up his annual “Home for the Holidays” concerts. 2 & 8pm. $45.

MUSIC: Sean Rowe @ the Parlor Room, Northampton. Taking time out from the business of recording his upcoming album, the big-voiced Troy singer-songwriter heads to Northampton. With Dave Houghton of Fancy Trash. 8pm. $15.

MUSIC: The Marc Black Band @ Bearsville Theater, Woodstock. Featuring Marc Black, Amy Fradon, Happy Traum, Warren Bernhardt, Gary Kvistad, Don Davis, Mike Esposito and Eric Parker. 9pm. $25 (20% of ticket price benefits Family of Woodstock).

THEATER: “Tennessee Williams: Straight Up and Salted with a Twist” @ 12 Main Street, Chatham. Blue Horse Repertory Company and PS21 present a two-part, store-front “pop up” performance – Tennessee Williams’ “The Lady of Larkspur Lotion” (at 3:30pm), followed by a reading of Christopher Durang’s Tennessee Williams parody “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls” at 5pm.

MUSIC: Hair of the Dog @ the Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs. 7pm.

MUSIC: Erin Harkes @ Bailey’s Cafe, Saratoga Springs. 8pm. FREE.

THEATER: “We Will Rock You” @ Proctors, Schenectady. Two dozen songs by British classic rockers Queen woven into a hit-filled jukebox stage musical by British comedian Ben Elton. 2 & 8pm. $20, $40, $50, $60 & $70.

THEATER: “A Christmas Carol” @ Capital Repertory Theatre, Albany. Michael Bush directs Broadway and Cap Rep fave Kevin McGuire star in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, at once funny and poignant. 3 & 8pm. $20-$60; $16 students. Through December 22.

MUSIC: Rebel @ Emma Williard School’s Kiggins Hall, Troy. The baroque chamber music ensemble performs the music of Antonio Vivaldi, Salamone Rossi, Arcangelo Corelli, Georg Philipp Telemann, Alessandro Scarlatti, William Boyce and others. 7pm. $25; $15 students.

PARTICIPATORY MUSIC: Handel’s Messiah Sing-in @ the First Congregational Church, Great Barrington. With the Berkshire Bach Players. Frank Nemhauser conducts. Bring your own scores or borrow ours. Or buy one of ours for $15. 4pm. FREE (donations welcome).

MUSIC: Dear Denizen @ the Half Moon, Hudson. 9pm. $5. UPDATE: This show has been cancelled…

READING: Peter Aaron @ the Golden Notebook, Woodstock. The writer and Chronogram music editor reads from his new book, “If You Like the Ramones…” 4pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Stone Revival Band @ Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Troy. 10pm. FREE.

MUSIC: The Garcia Project @ Putnam Den, Saratoga Springs. Tribute to the Jerry Garcia Band. $15; +$5 if under 21.

THEATER: “Don’t Dress for Dinner” @ the Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Averill Park. The Circle Theatre Players present the saucy farce written by Mark Camoletti and directed by Sky Vogel. 8pm. $16; $10 students under 18. Through December 8.

MUSIC: Gordon St @ Pauly’s Hotel, Albany. 9pm.

MUSIC: The Willie Amrod Band @ American Glory BBQ, Hudson. Unplugged. 8:30pm.

MUSIC: Autumns Shroud @ Red Square, Albany. With Here to Stay, Straight Through Sanity, Faced and the Power. 8pm.

MUSIC: Grand Central Station @ the Barrel Saloon, Albany. 10pm.

MUSIC: Max Violet @ Trick Shot Billiards, Clifton Park. With Swerve. 9:30pm.

MUSIC: Mary Verdi @ the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield. It’s Christmas at the Colonial with Verdi’s nostalgic, family-friendly holiday show, featuring a sing-along of old favorites, dancing, a children’s choir, bell choir, a full band with strings and horns. With special guests Bobby Sweet and Ron Ramsey. 7pm. $20; $10 children 16 and under. Also at 2pm on Sunday.

MUSIC: TAPESTRY Duo @ the Olde English Pub, Albany. 5pm.